Ben's Original facts for kids
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Ben's Original and Uncle Ben's packages
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| Type | Rice |
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| Owner | Mars, Incorporated |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 1943 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
Ben's Original, once known as Uncle Ben's, is a popular American brand of parboiled rice and other food products. It was first introduced in 1943 by a company called Converted Rice Inc. Today, it is owned by Mars, Inc., a big food company. The main office for Ben's Original is in Houston, Texas.
Uncle Ben's rice was very popular in the United States. It was the top-selling rice from the 1950s all the way into the 1990s. In 2020, the brand changed its name to "Ben's Original" in the U.S. This change happened during a time of important discussions about racial equality and justice.
Contents
How Ben's Original Rice Was Invented
The Special Rice Process
In the 1910s, two clever chemists, Erich Huzenlaub from Germany and Francis Heron Rogers from Britain, invented a special way to prepare rice. This method is called parboiling. It helps the rice keep more of its natural nutrients, which makes it healthier.
Their process involved a few steps:
- First, they would dry the whole rice grain using a special vacuum.
- Then, they would steam the rice.
- Finally, they would dry it again and remove the outer husk.
This method had many benefits. It made the rice more nutritious, helped it cook faster, and protected it from tiny bugs called weevils.
Bringing the Rice to Soldiers
In 1932, a businessman named Forrest Mars Sr. moved to the United Kingdom. He was there to help the Mars food company grow around the world. While in the UK, Mars learned about Erich Huzenlaub's special rice process.
Mars and Huzenlaub decided to work together. In 1942, with Mars's help, Huzenlaub and a food seller named Gordon L. Harwell created a company called Converted Rice, Inc. This company sold all its special rice to the U.S. and British armed forces during World War II.
This rice was perfect for soldiers because:
- It could be dropped from airplanes without getting bugs.
- It cooked much faster than other rice.
- It kept more of its important nutrients.
In 1959, Forrest Mars bought Huzenlaub's share of the company, making it fully part of his Mars food business. The main rice plant was in Houston, Texas, until 1999, when it moved to Greenville, Mississippi.
The Brand's Image and Name Change
The "Uncle Ben" Image
From 1946 until 2020, Uncle Ben's products featured a picture of an elderly African-American man wearing a bow tie. This image was said to be based on a real person. The company stated they didn't know if a real "Ben" ever existed. They said the name "Uncle Ben" was chosen by Gordon L. Harwell to help market the rice to everyone.
In 2007, a new advertising campaign for Uncle Ben's even "promoted" the image to be the "chairman of the board."
Focus on Sustainability
In 2017, Mars, Inc. started working to make sure the basmati rice sold under the Uncle Ben's brand was grown in a way that was good for the environment and farmers. This helped encourage farmers to use the best farming methods.
Changing to Ben's Original
In June 2020, following widespread discussions about racial equality and justice, Mars, Inc. announced they would be changing the brand's identity, including its logo. This decision came shortly after other companies also decided to update their brand images.
On September 23, 2020, Mars Inc. announced that the "Uncle Ben's" name would be replaced with "Ben's Original." The new packaging started appearing in stores across the United States around June 2021. This change was made to create a more inclusive and modern brand image.
