The Kellogg Company promised to update the box of one of its cereals following accusations that its illustration is racist.
USA Today reported yesterday (October 25) that the Michigan-based food manufacturer apologized for a Corn Pops box with a cartoon depicting anthropomorphic Corn Pops in a shopping mall. The Corn Pops all look nearly identical—yellow shading and few or no clothes—except for one noticeably daker one, dressed in a blue uniform and pushing a power washer.
Author Saladin Ahmed tweeted the illustration and a close up of the brown corn pop:
hey @KelloggsUS why is literally the only brown corn pop on the whole cereal box the janitor? this is teaching kids racism. pic.twitter.com/Nh7M7IFawW
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) October 24, 2017
yes its a tiny thing, but when you see your kid staring at this over breakfast and realize millions of other kids are doing the same…
— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) October 24, 2017
Kellogg’s apologized via its corporate Twitter account:
Kellogg is committed to diversity & inclusion. We did not intend to offend – we apologize. The artwork is updated & will be in stores soon.
— Kellogg’s (@KelloggsUS) October 24, 2017
Company spokesperson Kris Charles reiterated the apology in a statement to USA Today: "We take feedback very seriously, and it was never our intention to offend anyone. We apologize sincerely." Charles said that the cereal giant has already redesigned the box.