TRENTON, NJ – They are often called Jimmies or chocolate sprinkles, but they are no longer available at Dairy Queen.
Last year, Dairy Queen, a longstanding purveyor of frozen treats, officially discontinued the sale of chocolate jimmies, also known as chocolate sprinkles, across its locations. This decision aligns with broader shifts in menu options and availability at the chain.
The cessation of chocolate jimmies comes amidst various adaptations in Dairy Queen’s menu, attributed to supply shortages and operational changes. The company has not publicly specified the reasons for discontinuing these specific toppings, but it’s common for fast-food chains to modify their offerings based on supply chain dynamics and customer preferences.
Dairy Queen, known for its iconic Blizzard and soft-serve ice cream, continues to serve a wide array of treats and has been a beloved brand for over eight decades.
The removal of chocolate jimmies is part of ongoing adjustments that occasionally affect product availability and menu diversity.
The move also comes as a shock to many. Some claim the move is part of a diversity effort on behalf of Dairy Queen.
Across America, ice cream stores have been on a trend to rename chocolate jimmies to chocolate sprinkles, believing the New England originating nickname for the topping was rooted in racism.
Even left-leaning Snopes was unable to confirm that claim.
“There are two theories as to why anyone might think there’s a racist connotation to the name: One focuses on the brown color of what some say are the only true jimmies; the other posits that the name is a reference to Jim Crow, the title character in a well-known minstrel song of the 1830s. (Jim Crow quickly became a slang term for anything having to do with African-Americans, particularly items of a racist bent, such as the Jim Crow laws that segregated blacks from whites in the South.),” Snopes determined. “No valid reason exists to suppose that ‘jimmies’ carries a racist meaning or had a racially-charged origin. However, it’s difficult to definitively disprove the claim because the term’s entry into the English language is downright murky.”
It has been reported that the answer is a simple supply and demand issue. More people order rainbow sprinkles than chocolate ones, many ice cream shops report.