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So long, Aunt Jemima! Yesterday (Feb. 9), PepsiCo, Inc. announced the debut of Pearl Milling Company, reports PR Newswire. Despite the name change, the beloved pancake mix and syrup varieties will keep the familiar red packaging and will remain on shelves under the Aunt Jemima name, minus the character image, until June. While Pearl Milling Company is new to store shelves, it was founded in 1888 in St. Joseph and is responsible for the iconic self-rising pancake mix that later became known to the world as Aunt Jemima. The Quaker Oats Company purchased the Aunt Jemima brand in 1925 and over the years has updated its image to remove racial stereotypes that dated back to the brand’s origins. In June 2020, the company announced its transition from the Aunt Jemima name and likeness as a whole and pledged a $5 million commitment to support the Black community. “We recognize Aunt Jemima’s origins based on a racial stereotype,” said the company in a past press release. “As we work to make...
Popular food brand, Uncle Ben’s has finally changed their name following its commitment to change back in June. The brand was amongst others like Aunt Jemima, who admitted to capitalizing off of the lives of Black people for the success of their brands. “We will change our name to Ben’s Original™ as well as remove the image on our packaging to create more equitable iconography,” said the company in a written statement. “This change signals our ambition to create a more inclusive future while maintaining our commitment to producing the world’s best rice.” They also wrote, “Over the last several weeks, we have listened to thousands of consumers, our own Associates and other stakeholders from around the world. We understand the inequities that were associated with the name and face of the Uncle Ben’s brand.” Continuing on the apology train, the brand says they will also take other initiatives to back their call to support the Black community. “In addition, in Greenville, Mississippi-...