Dreyer’s Ice Cream says it will stop marketing its iconic chocolate-covered ice cream as “Eskimo Pie,” because, the company says, the term “Eskimo” is derogatory.
The announcement came Friday and is the latest in a number of announcement from companies that are banishing African-American and Native American images from their products: Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben, Mrs. Butterworth’s and Cream of Wheat all had African-American representations that are now considered too hot to handle.
Land o’ Lakes, an agricultural cooperative, is also removing the brand image of a Native American woman because the company said it was degrading.
“We have been reviewing our Eskimo Pie business for some time and will be changing the brand name and marketing,” Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream’s spokesperson told CBS News. “We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory.”
The company has not yet announced what the new name of the ice cream confection will be, or whether there will be a human face associated with it.
