The death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department over three weeks ago has sparked an intense and thorough reexamination of American race relations.
And we mean thorough.
Americans of all stripes are opening their ears and their hearts in hopes of understanding how best to exemplify the words of their founding fathers: All are created equal.
As a part of this race relations revolution, the nation is also coming to terms with some household staples that may appear offensive to people of color.
The pancake syrup brand Mrs. Butterworth’s — known for its matronly woman-shaped bottle — will undergo a “complete brand and packaging review,” a spokesperson for Conagra Brands said Wednesday. The development comes after parent companies for Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben’s announced that the two product lines will see branding changes of their own.
“We understand that our actions help play an important role in eliminating racial bias and as a result, we have begun a complete brand and packaging review on Mrs. Butterworth’s,” Conagra Brands Communications Manager Dan Skinner told Forbes. The company added:
“We stand in solidarity with our Black and Brown communities and we can see that our packaging may be interpreted in a way that is wholly inconsistent with our values. It’s heartbreaking and unacceptable that racism and racial injustices exist around the world. We will be part of the solution. Let’s work together to progress toward change.”
The news comes just hours after the announcement that the rival syrup slingers over at Aunt Jemima’s would also be adjusting their packaging to reflect this new American cognizance.
According to other reports, Uncle Ben’s rice will also undergo a rebranding on account of similar concerns.
