Bottles of Aunt Jemima Syrup arranged for a photograph on June 18, 2020 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Brands such as Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben's, Mrs. Butterworth's and Cream of Wheat have announced they are either retiring or reviewing branding that is considered to be based on racial stereotypes. (Photo by Kristoffer Tripplaar/Sipa USA)
MD: Companies Address Brands Considered Stereotypes
NEW YORK (AP) – Aunt Jemima is making her last batch of pancakes. Quaker Oats said Tuesday that its Aunt Jemima brand pancake mix and syrup will be renamed Pearl Milling Company.
Aunt Jemima products will continue to be sold until June, when the packaging will officially change over.
Quaker Oats announced last June that it would retire the Aunt Jemima brand, saying the character’s origins are “based on a racial stereotype.”
The smiling Aunt Jemima logo was inspired by the 19th century “mammy” minstrel character.
While new to store shelves, Pearl Milling Company was founded in Missouri in 1888 and was the originator of self-rising pancake mix.