While you may remember attempts to rebrand french fries as “freedom fries”, did you know that during World War 1, in the US, foods of German origins like sauerkraut and frankfurters were re-named “liberty cabbage” and “liberty sausages”? While political or nationalistic rationales have played a role in food names, it’s interesting to see in the Otherwords video below how often marketing and sales efforts have been the driving force behind food names. This goes as far back as Columbus being sent across the ocean to (among other reasons) discover a new source of black pepper, but instead finding the chilés of Mexico and the Caribbean. Rather than admit defeat, these were renamed “peppers” to try to latch on to the popularity of the spice. Another example is the huge boost in sales that happened when prunes, associated with older people and bowel movements, were re-dubbed “dried plums” to reach a new market. Similarly, Patagonian Toothfish and Dolphinfish became “Chilean Sea Bass” and “Mahi-Mahi”. I can offer no insightful comment, however, on the original name of sea urchin.
