

How often do you pick up a potato and assume its gender? Yam I right?
Boy? Girl?
“It’s a potato,” said Ali Mierzejewski, editor-in-chief at toy review site The Toy Insider about the popular Hasbro toy, Mr. Potato Head.
For Hasbro’s hottest potato toy that’s not necessarily the case.
Now, Hasbro said it will release a new Potato Head playset in the fall that won’t subscribe to any prefix.
The new playset transforms the 70-year old Mr. Potato Head into an all-inclusive potato – released of its binary gender roles.
The change comes amid criticism over the lack of inclusivity against the toy industry and other mainstream products.
This past month, Quaker Oats released a new name and logo for its “Aunt Jemima” products, retiring the racist stereotype that defined the brand for years.
Aunt Jemima has a new name: the Pearl Milling Company.
Quaker Oats announced it would drop the name Aunt Jemima last summer after the killing of George Floyd and the widespread protests over racial inequality. https://t.co/RlgO9OrRSP
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 10, 2021
Mattel, the company who introduced the world to Barbie, was criticized for its unrealistic beauty standards and a lack of diversity for years.
Last year, Barbie unveiled a launch of diverse dolls some of which had vitiligo and prosthetics.
The company promoted the line in a tweet saying, “More skin tones, More body types, More unique looks!”
More skin tones!
More body types!
More unique looks!
Express yourself with #Barbie #Fashionistas – the most diverse doll line. 💕 Shop now: https://t.co/zTVjMZsjVy. #WeAreBarbie pic.twitter.com/l176Wvzj0z— Barbie (@Barbie) January 28, 2020
Hasbro appears to be going in a more inclusive direction for kids.
But for those fans of the Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head brand, Hasbro said it will continue to make the popular toys as well.
Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD pic.twitter.com/6I84KrxOLQ
— Hasbro (@Hasbro) February 25, 2021