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A popular imported cake mix sold in Jamaican supermarkets is facing backlash from religious leaders and parents, as they believe its 'Devil' name carries dangerous spiritual undertones, and should be pulled from shelves.

The product is the Betty Crocker Super Moist Devil's Food Cake Mix, a chocolate-flavoured cake blend, with the phrase 'Devil's Food' prominently displayed on the front of the box. While the cake mix has long been a staple in kitchens globally, some Jamaican consumers say the branding feels out of place in a deeply spiritual society.

Michelle Rowe, a 34-year-old mother of two, said the label stopped her in her tracks.

"My daughter asked me why the cake had the devil's name on it and I froze," she told THE STAR. "I couldn't even explain it properly. It felt wrong, just something I didn't want in my house."

Another shopper, Tanisha, shared a similar discomfort.

"We treat it like a joke, but spiritually, it's not," she said. "Not everything is for the home especially not around children. Wi affi be careful weh wi normalise."

Bishop Rev Dr Alvin Bailey of the Portmore Holiness Church condemned the cake mix and urged consumers and authorities alike to reject it.

"Any product for human consumption, utilisation, application that has any kind of name or implications that has to do with the devil is to be deliberately avoided and condemned," Bailey said.

He believes terms like 'devil's food' are not innocent branding choices, but part of a broader erosion of spiritual consciousness in society, especially among youth.

"Even if children don't understand the meaning behind the name, it must not be given to them," he told THE STAR. "There's more to this than meets the eye."

Bailey cited the Jamaican national anthem's plea to " keep us free from evil powers" and said the country must take that line seriously, not just in prayer, but in policy and daily life.

"There are satanic worshippers in Jamaica," he warned. "Just as we find creative ways to bring people to God, others use subtle, sinister methods to pull people into darkness even through food packaging and advertising."

He added that other foreign imports, including Halloween and "dark tourism" are similarly desensitising the population and introducing unsafe spiritual influences into homes, schools, and public spaces.

Bailey is calling for the creation of a government agency to review imported goods, marketing campaigns, and public programmes that may conflict with Jamaican values or pose spiritual risks.

"Without legislation, people will bring these things in freely, to our harm. The free-for-all must stop," he said.

However, Christian commentator Andrew Martin said the name Devil's Food Cake has historical culinary roots and shouldn't automatically be seen as evil.

"It's really just a mythological play on words," he said. "Angel food is vanilla and light-coloured. Devil's food is dark chocolate and rich. It's a phrase from the early 1900s that refers to the colour and taste."

Still, Martin acknowledged that the name might be unsettling in a highly spiritual society like Jamaica.

"Kids hear the word 'devil' and they immediately associate it with evil," he said. "They don't see the marketing history. So maybe it's time for a rebrand, call it black cake or something more familiar."

Martin pointed out that advertising often uses suggestive imagery or language that can influence how people, especially children, interpret a product. He said such messaging can blur the lines between what is playful and what can carry deeper meaning, particularly for the young impressionable minds.