Kamil Perry
Coon cheese is a cheddar cheese produced by the Dairy Farmers company in Australia. It was first launched in 1931 by Fred Walker, and was originally known as Red Coon. The cheese is said to be named after its American creator Edward Coon, who patented a method for fast maturation of cheese via high temperature and humidity. In 2021, Coon cheese was rebranded as Cheer cheese.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Company | Dairy Farmers |
| Manufacturer | Warrnambool Cheese and Butter |
| Owner | Saputo Inc. |
| Type of cheese | Cheddar |
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What You'll Learn
Coon cheese is made in Australia
The cheese was originally known as Red Coon, and was launched by the Kraft Walker Cheese Co. in 1931. In 1949, Kraft Foods Inc. registered the trademark "Coon" for cheese with the US Patent Office, claiming use since 1910. The Australian company marketing the Coon brand originally stated on their website (in 2012) that the name derived from Edward Coon, a cheesemaker from Philadelphia. However, the accuracy of this account has been challenged by anti-racism campaigners, who have said that they have been unable to find evidence that Coon was a famous cheesemaker.
In 2021, Coon cheese was rebranded as Cheer cheese, following years of controversy over its name. The cheese is now produced by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter company, which is majority-owned by Canadian dairy company Saputo Inc.
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The cheese was first launched in 1931
Coon cheese was first launched in 1931 by Fred Walker. It is a cheddar cheese produced by the Dairy Farmers company in Australia. The cheese is said to be named after its American creator Edward Coon, who patented a method for the fast maturation of cheese via high temperature and humidity. This process became known as the Cooning process.
The cheese was originally called Red Coon and was launched by the Kraft Walker Cheese Co., a partnership between Fred Walker and James L. Kraft. In 1949, Kraft Foods Inc. registered the trademark "Coon" for cheese with the US Patent Office, claiming use since 1910. The name was derived from Edward Coon, a cheesemaker from Philadelphia who had patented a process for manufacturing cheese in 1926.
The accuracy of Dairy Farmers' account of the origin of the brand has been challenged. Anti-racism campaigners have pointed out that there is no evidence that Edward Coon was a famous cheese maker, and have suggested that the name may have come from the black wraparound in which the cheese was originally sold.
In 2021, following years of controversy over its name, the cheese was rebranded as Cheer cheese.
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It was originally called Red Coon
Coon cheese was originally called Red Coon. It was launched in 1931 by Fred Walker, who was in partnership with James L. Kraft. The cheese was named after its American creator Edward Coon, who patented a method for the fast maturation of cheese via high temperature and humidity. This process became known as the Cooning process.
The cheese was originally sold in black wrapping, which has been suggested as an alternative origin of the name. The cheese was rebranded in 2021 as Cheer cheese, following years of controversy over its name.
The cheese was originally manufactured in Melbourne by Kraft Foods Ltd. It was later produced by Lion Dairy & Drinks, before the brand was bought back by Warrnambool Cheese and Butter in 2015. Warrnambool Cheese and Butter is majority-owned by Canadian dairy company Saputo Inc.
The cheese was originally marketed as "Kraft natural tasty Coon Cheese, fully matured", with a "robust flavour men really appreciate". The cheese was described as "aged to full maturity" and was marketed towards "active men".
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The name was changed to Cheer in 2021
Coon cheese was originally made in Philadelphia, in the United States, by Edward William Coon, who patented a process for manufacturing cheese in 1926. The cheese was then launched in Australia in 1931 by Fred Walker, who partnered with James L. Kraft to form the Kraft Walker Cheese Co.
The name of the cheese was changed to Cheer in 2021, following years of controversy over its name. The cheese's original name was seen as a racist slur, and the change came in the middle of the Black Lives Matter civil-rights movement, which called for an end to racism and discrimination against Black and Indigenous people, and people of colour. Anti-racism campaigner Stephen Hagan said that he had been unable to find evidence that Edward Coon was a famous cheese maker, and contended that the name came from the black wraparound in which the cheese was originally sold.
The cheese is now produced by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter company, which is majority-owned by Canadian dairy company Saputo Inc. The chair and CEO of Saputo Inc., Lino A. Saputo, announced the name change in January 2021, saying that the company wanted to "build a culture of acceptance".
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The cheese is named after its American founder, Edward Coon
Coon cheese, now known as Cheer cheese, is a cheddar cheese produced by the Dairy Farmers company in Australia. It was first launched in 1931 by Fred Walker. The cheese is named after its American founder, Edward Coon, who patented a process for the fast maturation of cheese via high temperature and humidity. This process became known as the Cooning process.
Edward Coon was a cheesemaker from Philadelphia, who patented his method in the US in 1926. The cheese was originally marketed as "Red Coon" by the Kraft Walker Cheese Co., a partnership between Fred Walker and James L. Kraft. In 1949, Kraft Foods Inc. registered the trademark "COON" for cheese with the US Patent Office, claiming use since 1910.
The name of the cheese has been controversial in recent years, with some arguing that it is offensive and racist. Anti-racism campaigners have called for a change in the name, and in 2021, the cheese was rebranded as "Cheer" cheese. The accuracy of Dairy Farmers' account of the origin of the brand has also been challenged, with some suggesting that the name came from the black wraparound in which the cheese was originally sold.
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Frequently asked questions
Coon cheese is made in Australia.
Coon cheese is made by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter company, which is majority-owned by Canadian dairy company Saputo Inc.
Coon cheese was named after its American founder, Edward William Coon, who patented the process used to manufacture the cheese.
Coon cheese changed its name to Cheer cheese in 2021 following years of controversy over its name.
