Eskimo Pie to be rebranded after acknowledging name is ‘derogatory’

Company has paused production of ice cream until the new brand rolls out next year

(Nestle/Dreyers)

American ice cream brand Eskimo Pie has announced it is changing its name after acknowledging the term was offensive to native arctic communities.

From 2021, the chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar will be called Edy's Pie, a nod to one of the company's founders, Joseph Edy.

The Edy name is also familiar to consumers in the US, as the company, Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, already uses Mr Edy’s name to market food on the east coast.

“Our mission at Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream is to bring joy to everyday life with ice cream and we look forward to our Edy's Pie ice cream bars continuing to do just that,” said Elizabell Marquez, head of marketing for Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.

She added that the company has “paused production” of Eskimo Pies until the new brand rolls out next year.

The Australian version of the ice cream has also announced that it will be changing its name to Polar Pie.

"Peters Ice Cream is committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality and we acknowledge that now is the time for change,” a spokesperson for the brand told news.com.au.

“Eskimo Pie is a brand which has been within our portfolio for many decades and has a loyal consumer base who adore the product. We have chosen to rename the product ‘Polar Pie’ as this retains a strong association back to the original brand and product idea – a frozen treat you eat much like a pie – with your hands and hence the name Polar Pie!”

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream first announced plans for the name change in June, saying it recognised the “Eskimo” term is derogatory.

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream first announced plans for the name change in June, saying it recognised the “Eskimo” term is derogatory. (Nestle/Dreyers)

“We are committed to being a part of the solution on racial equality, and recognise the term is derogatory,” Marquez, said at the time. “This move is part of a larger review to ensure our company and brands reflect our people values.”

According to the University of Alaska’s Alaska Native Language Centre, the term “Eskimo” is receding from common use and is considered a “colonial” term.

“Although the name ‘Eskimo’ was commonly used in Alaska to refer to Inuit and Yupik people of the world, this usage is now considered unacceptable by many or even most Alaska Natives, largely since it is a colonial name imposed by non-Indigenous people,” it states.

“Alaska Natives increasingly prefer to be known by the names they use in their own languages, such as Inupiaq or Yupik. ‘Inuit’ is now the current term in Alaska and across the Arctic, and ‘Eskimo’ is fading from use.”

The company joins a host of other brands who have committed to changing their brands and logos, including Uncle Ben's.

In September, the rice brand announced it will change its name to Ben’s Original and drop its logo, which featured the image of a smiling, grey-haired black man.

The change followed through on a pledge its owner Mars Food made in June to review the brand amid global protests over police brutality and racism.