Cadburys’ make liquorice lozenges. Called Nigroids.

[almostwitty]

sentience popped down to her local chemist, and found a tin of liquorice lozenges. Called Nigroids. Through a bit of Googling, we discover that the manufacturer of said Nigroid liquorice lozenges - Ernest Jackson & Co. Ltd - are apparently owned by Cadbury’s.

I’m still rather amazed they’re still called that. What possible reason would you have for calling liquorice lozengs Nigroids ?!

Originally published at almost witty. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[waltzingalong.livejournal.com]

There is not enough WUT in the universe.

[sentience.livejournal.com]

It is monumentally fucked up.

[voodoo-vibe.livejournal.com]

I dunno, but you made me larf.

Fanks. xD

[shove-this-job.livejournal.com]

Bob Kelly theatreical makeup (costume makeup artist) is what everyone at my University used, and in their starter pack was both "Light Negro" and "Dark Negro". This was 1996. :O

[shove-this-job.livejournal.com]

Damn, another company is still doing it! http://www.halloweencostumesale.com/CAKE-MU-51-NEGRO-BROWN-Grp-123DA3551.aspx

[anivair.livejournal.com]

My best guess would be that the name did not originate in an english speaking country. In spanish, negro means black. It's not a bad word, just the color. So my assumption is that it was for a similar reason.

however, that's why you change labels when you sell in other countries. Period. Seriously. Someone is going to lose their marketing job.

[anivair.livejournal.com]

nope, i'm wrong. They were invented in bristol and apparently predate the slur by many years.

Which leads to a weird question. It's not their fault that their candy now sounds like a racial slur. they certainly had no intention of doing that when they started making them.

So do they have to rename them? or can we accept that it sounds similar and move on?

What is suddenly Smarties was a bad word for gay bottoms.

[nikki-z.livejournal.com]

i am glad i checked the comments before referring you to other languages...
but...
In Germany, we all grew up with Negro-kisses or Moors heads . then the 80s brought the change of names. the treat itself is at least 150 years old.. and NOT being from a racist family i always thought that must mean kisses of black people would be particularly sweet :) !?

i think it's strange it has not been changed, but i doubt, the name is what people are buying them for..

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Personally, it makes me think of a combination of migraines and 'rrhoids, so while the racial thing didn't strike me instantly it still probably isn't the best name.