Should Mr Potato Head become gender neutral?
A gender-neutral makeover will see Mr Potato Head become the toy formerly known as Mr Potato Head.
The classic toy’s branding is being “reimagined for the modern consumer”, its US maker Hasbro announced on Thursday.
From later this year, the toy – launched almost 70 years ago – will be named Potato Head on the packaging.
Other toy companies have taken similar decisions in recent years, breaking with traditional gender norms.
“Hasbro is making sure all feel welcome in the Potato Head world by officially dropping the Mr from the Mr Potato Head brand name and logo to promote gender equality and inclusion,” Hasbro said of the name change.
The rebranded toy, which can be assembled with a selection of different body parts and clothes, will be released in autumn this year, Hasbro said.
The company said the toy will allow children “to imagine and create their own Potato Head family”.
What are your views? Should Mr Potato Head lose his gender? Could they have kept him and introduced additional Potato Heads to the family? Does this mean that other toys such as Action Man and Barbie should lose their identity?
