Nestlé is to change the name of two popular Australian confectionery products, Red Skins and Chicos sweets, the food and beverage giant said, amid a global debate over racial inequality.
"These names have overtones which are out of step with Nestlé’s values, which are rooted in respect," the company said in a statement. "While new names have not yet been finalised, we will move quickly to change these names."
Redskin is a slang term widely deemed offensive that refers to Native Americans, while 'chico', which translates to 'boy' in Spanish, can be offensive to those of Latin American descent.
Aunt Jemima
Last week, PepsiCo Inc said it would change the name and brand image of its Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup, which have been criticised as being racist.
Following PepsiCo's move, the makers of Uncle Ben's rice, owned by Mars Inc; Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, owned by ConAgra Brands Inc and Cream of Wheat porridge, owned by B&G Foods Inc, also said they would review their packaging.
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