The image of the black farmer on the packaging has been in use since the 1940s, and company officials are even considering changing the name. Already, many businesses are taking steps to address growing concerns about racial prejudice and injustice.
The parent company Mars announced that Uncle Ben - in our opinion "Barba Ben" - was a fictional character, whose name was first used in 1946, as a reference to a farmer working for an African-American farmer in Texas.
The image that personifies the brand "was a favorite chef in Chicago and a waiter named Frank Brown."
However, the company acknowledges that the use of the character is outdated and out of date and has pledged to make changes to the brand, following the marches, clashes and racial chants that followed the assassination of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter campaign. .
"We hear the voices of consumers, especially the black community and the voices of our partners around the world, and we recognize that now is the right time for the Uncle Ben's brand to emerge, including the visual identity we will create," she said. company.
According to the company, racism has no place in society. "We stand in solidarity with the black community, our partners and our partners in the fight for social justice."
Mars is considering all alternatives to product changes, including a new name.