Frank L. White

Frank L. White ( – February 15, 1938) was an American chef whose likeness, known as "Rastus," is purported to have been featured on the packaging and advertising for Cream of Wheat breakfast cereal from the early 1900s until 2020.

Biography White was born in Barbados and immigrated to the United States in 1875, becoming a naturalized American citizen in 1890.

Mahin did not record the name of the man in the photograph, and noted that Mapes was unsuccessful in locating him years later.

White lived in Leslie, Michigan, for approximately twenty years until his death on February 15, 1938. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Leslie with an anonymous marker until an identifying granite gravestone was installed in 2007.

Legacy In September 2020, B&G Foods announced that images of the Cream of Wheat chef would be removed from packaging. The food manufacturer announced in June that it was reviewing the packaging after concerns the chef character might perpetuate racist stereotypes. "While research indicates the image may be based upon an actual Chicago chef named Frank White, it reminds some consumers of earlier depictions they find offensive," B&G Foods said in a statement. "Therefore, we are removing the chef image from all Cream of Wheat packaging."