"Mrs.Butterworth" news and stories

In ancient times, food was marketed primarily by "hunger." But in the modern era, it's not enough that we eat our food, we must also emotionally bond with it. This partly explains the enduring appeal of food mascots, those bright, colorful, affable characters who beckon us to consume.

In many cases, we choose a product simply because we have a bizarre attachment to the cartoon that represents it. There is no shame in trusting, say, a paranoid Leprechaun with a powerful marshmallow lust more than one's own family. These 10 icons are the awesomest in the pantheon of cheap food branding.

Photo: Flickr / Roadsidepictures

Her name is Butterworth. Mrs. Butterworth. And after 40 years of mystery, she's ready to reveal her first name to the world.

Slashfood reported in June that Mrs. Butterworth's had launched a contest asking participants what they think the company's iconic spoke-bottle's first name might be, accompanied by a short statement as to why. The co-winners, 15-year-old Shayla Doty, of Logansport, Ind., and Cynthia Harmon, 44, of Champaign, Ill., each independently found their way to "Joy" -- as well as $500 and a year's supply of syrup.

Said Miss Doty, "The father-to-be, Mr. Butterworth, was in favor of the name Yvonne, while the mother-to-be felt she was more deserving of a name that would remind them of what a precious jewel she would be -- Opal. Having not settled on a decision the day their giggling baby girl arrived, the doctor suggested "Jocelyn," meaning "the merry one." A light bulb lit above Daddy Butterworth's head, and he suggested combining the first letter from all three names, J-O-Y."

Ms. Harmon contended that, "Growing up, Mrs. Butterworth was teased by classmates who called her 'Joy Buzzerworth' in reference to a popular practical joke item called a joy buzzer that shocked people when they shook hands. When Mrs. Butterworth's introduced her syrup to the world, she didn't want anybody to think about Joy Buzzers, and just wanted them to love her thick and rich and buttery syrup, and so she decided to leave out her first name."

Still, Slashfood wonders -- did she meet a Mr. Butterworth and tie the knot, or is Missus just a nickname? Share your best guesses in the comments below.

Contest results will be posted at mrsbutterworthssyrup.