Land O’Lakes removes ‘racist’ image of a Native American woman from its packaging after 99 years and replaces her with a landscape
- Company’s packaging used to featured a Native American woman named Mia
- Land O’Lakes announced in February that packaging now features a landscape
- The image of the Native American woman has previously been branded ‘racist’
- News of its removal was met with celebration who said the company shouldn’t be using such imagery on its packaging anyway
- The new packaging will fully roll out to the public by end of 2020, company said
Land O’Lakes has removed the ‘racist’ image of a Native American woman named Mia from its packaging after nearly 100 years.
The Minnesota-based company, which was founded in 1921, quietly unveiled its new packaging in a press statement released published in February.
One of the images from the press release shows the old design has been replaced with a landscape.
According to the farmer-owned cooperative, which produces cheese, butter and other dairy products, the new design will feature ‘the farmers who are the foundation of the cooperative’s membership’.
Land O’Lakes has removed the ‘racist’ image of a Native American woman named Mia from its packaging after nearly 100 years
The Minnesota-based company, which was founded in 1921, quietly unveiled its new packaging in a press statement released published in February. One of the images from the press release shows the old design has been replaced with a landscape (pictured)
‘The new packaging will show up in a variety of ways, including through a new front-of-package design that features the phrase ‘Farmer-Owned’ above the LAND O LAKES brandmark, ‘Since 1921′ below it and a vibrant illustration of land and lakes,’ the company said.
Though there was no mention of removing the Native American image from their packaging, Beth Ford, President and CEO, Land O’Lakes said: ‘As Land O’Lakes looks toward our 100th anniversary, we’ve recognized we need packaging that reflects the foundation and heart of our company culture.’
The new packaging has already started to appear on tubs of butter, foodservice products and deli cheese. It will begin appearing on stick butter in either spring or summer 2020.
‘The new farmer-owned packaging is expected to be fully rolled out across LAND O LAKES products by the end of 2020,’ the statement said.
The removal of the Native American woman was met with celebration by Twitter users who said the company shouldn’t be using such ‘racist’ imagery anyway.
‘Good news! removes the Native woman from their packaging & website,’ one user wrote.
Another shared: ‘Bravo Land O Lakes! Minnesota brands should not be using racist Indian imagery any more.’
‘She’s gone, Land O’ Lakes finally did the right thing & got rid of their racist logo,’ a third user tweeted.
The removal of the Native American woman was met with celebration by Twitter users who said the company shouldn’t be using such ‘racist’ imagery anyway. The company said that packaging will also feature its farmers (pictured)
