Relations between Washington and Moscow are at their most tense since the end of the Cold War. A US destroyer sailing aggressively close to Russia’s borders complained when it was intercepted by a pair of Su-25s, and the West continuously downplays the Kremlin’s success in its Syrian military campaign.
Now US officials have found something else to complain about: children’s ice cream.
At issue is a new product called "Obamka," or "Little Obama." The chocolate-covered ice cream on a stick has packaging that depicts a freckle-faced, tan-skinned boy with an earring. US officials have decried the product as racist and insulting.
"While I haven’t seen this particular product for sale, we are disappointed by the media-driven anti-Americanism that has become so prevalent in Russia over the past few years, particularly when it takes on a discriminatory or racist bent," said one US official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Slavitsa, the company behind the product, has stressed that the product is not meant to offend.
"With different flavors and glazes, the ice cream symbolizes the main races of people on our planet," the company said in a statement.
"Ice cream names need to be memorable. For those with a rich imagination, various associations might arise, but this product is for children and is a long way from politics."
The statement also stressed that the inspiration for the boy featured on the packaging is a Soviet film, not President Obama.
"We just liked the name. It’s so amusing," Rasilya Mustafina, the factory development director told local news.
"There are no political undertones. We certainly did not want to offend anybody."
Slavitsa currently has no plans to halt production of Obamka.
