Nestlé has announced it will change the name of its Red Skins and Chicos lollies.
The move comes during an ongoing debate in Australia about the country's problematic history, as the Black Lives Matter movement causes people across the globe to confront issues and discuss whether they have the capacity to cause offence or make others feel uncomfortable.
As a result of this debate, Nestlé has revealed how it will try and make things a little easier.
Advert
In a press release, the company wrote: "Nestlé today announced that it will change the name of its Red Skins and Chicos lollies.
"This decision acknowledges the need to ensure that nothing we do marginalises our friends, neighbours and colleagues.
"These names have overtones which are out of step with Nestlé's values, which are rooted in respect. While new names have not yet been finalised, we will move quickly to change these names."
The term 'redskin' is a slang term for Native Americans and First Nations people of Canada and there have been calls in the past for companies or commodities bearing the name to consider an alternative. Some American dictionaries list the word as 'usually offensive', 'disparaging', 'insulting' or 'taboo'.
Advert
The Washington Redskins NFL team has faced calls for decades to change its name, however thus far the team has refused to bow to the pressure.
Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, said of the term: "The R-word is the moral equivalent of the N-word. It packs the same level of bigotry and insensitivity for Native Americans as any other racial slur. We cannot tolerate the NFL's continued commitment to normalising this demeaning characterisation of Native Americans."
Chico is also a Spanish word for 'little boy' and it's believed Nestlé wants to move away from characterisations or stereotypes.
Featured Image Credit: eBay