In late October 2024, social media users shared a rumor that the Quaker Oats Co. had announced plans for the name and image of Aunt Jemima to return to syrup bottles in 2025.
For example, the Facebook page America's Last Line of Defense claimed (archived) on Oct. 20: "Boycotts work! Quaker has announced that Aunt Jemima will be back on syrup bottles in 2025."
According to the post, Quaker Oats allegedly said: "Our customers have spoken."
Meanwhile, the Facebook page America Loves Liberty posted (archived) a similar claim on the same day: "Aunt Jemima will be back in 2025! Quaker announced that the iconic figure is back by popular demand! Boycotts work!"
Variations of the rumor also spread on X.
Some social media users seemed to interpret the rumor as a factual recounting of real-life events. For example, one person wrote on Facebook: "Quaker has announced that Aunt Jemima (a cherished part of my childhood) will be back on syrup bottles in 2025: 'Our customers have spoken.' Maybe there is hope for our society after all!!!"
However, there was no evidence Quaker Oats had announced it was changing the name of its syrup product from its fairly new name, Pearl Milling Co., back to its original Aunt Jemima branding. Likewise, no reputable media outlets had reported on such news.
Rather, the rumor originated with ALLOD — a Facebook page that describes itself as a "network of trollery," and adds in its intro: "Nothing on this page is real." The network also owns Facebook page America Loves Liberty, among others, and the website The Dunning-Kruger Times.
ALLOD also shared the fictional story on The Dunning-Kruger Times. That story contained numerous hints of the rumor's satirical theme and began as follows:
Quaker has announced that Aunt Jemima will be back on syrup bottles in 2025: "Our customers have spoken."
You heard it here first, patriots. Quaker Oats, the parent company of the Pearl Milling Company, the former owner of the Aunt Jemima Brand, will revive the iconic cook on its boxe4s and syrup bottles starting next year sometime.
According to our source, a guy named Derek who used to work for a company that delivered Quaker Oats to local convenience stores for resale at a 500% markup, told us he heard it from his friend Dale in distribution who used to date Rachel in Human Resources. Rachel's mom worked for Quaker from 1982 to 1991 and swears that she heard voices in her head tell her all about the transition.
Snopes has addressed other rumors about the syrup brand in the past, such as the false claim Nancy Green died a millionaire from the money she earned portraying the fictional Aunt Jemima in promotional settings.
For background, here is why we alert readers to rumors created by sources that call their output humorous or satirical.