Eskimo Pie is the latest brand to change its packaging amid calls for corporations to participate in the fight against racism.
The chocolate-coated vanilla ice cream bar will be changing its name and axing the cartoon image of an Alaska Native child that is featured on its packaging to reflect Dreyer’s commitment to racial equality.
“We have been reviewing our Eskimo Pie business for some time and will be changing the brand name and marketing.” Elizabell Marquez, head of marketing for Dreyer’s, told the Washington Examiner, adding that Dreyer’s is “committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognize the term is derogatory.”
The term “Eskimo” is considered derogatory because it was given to the indigenous peoples of Alaska and Canada by non-Inuit people and was said to mean “eater of raw meat.” The name, however, is thought to come from the French word “esquimaux,” which means “one who nets snowshoes.”
In June, several corporations announced they were changing brand names and mascots in response to increasing calls for racial sensitivity. The parent companies of Aunt Jemima syrup, Uncle Ben’s rice, and Cream of Wheat, all of which feature black characters on their packaging, have announced rebranding campaigns.
