Quaker Oats Company

Portrait for @ash
by @ash
2020-08-02T18:00:01+00:00
Arts, Entertainment, Culture • Celebrities & Public Figures
Actor Wilford Brimley dies aged 85
Wilford Brimley on October 22, 2012
Wilford Brimley on October 22, 2012 Credit: Marc Majcher / Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0)

Actor Wilford Brimley has died at age 85 in St. George, Utah on Saturday after suffering from a kidney ailment. Brimley, who spotted a walrus moustache, is known for his roles in the 1985 fantasy movie "Cocoon", the television series "The Waltons" and sports film "The Natural". He was also a spokesperson for Quaker Oats and Liberty Medical, a diabetes-testing supply company.

Portrait for @ash
by @ash
2020-06-17T11:50:18+00:00
Lifestyle • Food
Quaker Oats to remove Aunt Jemima brand, in effort to "make progress toward racial equality"
1951 ad for Aunt Jemima - America's Best-Loved Pancakes
1951 ad for Aunt Jemima - America's Best-Loved Pancakes Credit: Aunt Jemima / Public domain

In a statement on Wednesday, Quaker Oats announced the rebranding of their syrup and pancake mix brand as they recognised the image of Aunt Jemima as a racial stereotype. Aunt Jemima products feature an illustration of a black woman, first depicted as a minstrel and later as a "mammy" wearing a kerchief which was eventually removed.

Vice president and chief marketing officer Kristin Kroepfl said in a press release: "We recognize Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype. As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers’ expectations."