Famous Foods Turning 50 This Year

By Maria W. • Jul 18, 2024

Food products launched in 1974 are celebrating 50 years on the market this year. These '70s innovations are household names today. Read on to learn about these products making the half-century mark – including one that fizzled almost as soon as it started.

1. Baileys^® Irish Cream

The distinctive flavor of Baileys Irish Cream blends smooth-as-silk cream with the bold kick of whiskey, a delightful combination popular in the U.S. for the past five decades. Now mixed to create a number of tasty concoctions, Baileys broke new ground in 1974 with this surprising blend of cream and hard liquor since nothing like it existed on the American market at the time. You'd Never Guess These Food Products are 50 Years Old-1

2. Skittles^®

Skittles didn't hit the North American market until 1979, but this chewy, colorful candy was developed in the United Kingdom in 1974. A fruity alternative to a similarly shaped chocolate candy, Skittles have delighted candy lovers for years. Today, sweets consumers in more than 65 countries can "taste the rainbow." You'd Never Guess These Products Are 50 Years Old-2

3. Kinder^® Surprise Eggs

Kinder Surprise was introduced in 1974 as an egg-shaped chocolate candy with a hollow center containing a toy prize. One of many Kinder products, Kinder Surprise delighted children who loved having candy and a toy at the same time. However, Kinder Surprise ran afoul of the U.S. government in 1997 when the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPCS) deemed the treat a choking hazard and banned it in the U.S. Instead, Americans can buy Kinder Joy^®, which is similar to Kinder Surprise, but with a design approved by the CPSC. Meanwhile, European kids continue to enjoy Kinder Surprise. You'd Never Guess These Food Products Are 50 Years Old-3

4. Meow Mix^®

Our feline friends have something to celebrate this year, too! Ralston Purina launched Meow Mix in 1974, along with this slogan for the ingeniously named cat food: "Tastes so good, cats ask for it by name." With commercials featuring real cats singing and dancing to the Meow Mix jingle, the brand became well-known to humans as well. Famous Foods Turning 50 This Year-4

#5. Yoplait^®

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Yoplait's arrival on the U.S. market. In 1964, thousands of French farmers decided to more effectively market their dairy products by merging six regional cooperatives into one national brand. Yoplait was born, and in 1974, the brand crossed the Atlantic, and Americans have been enjoying Yoplait yogurt ever since. Fun fact: The six petals on the original Yoplait logo flower represented the six original co-ops. You'd Never Guess These Food Products are 50 Years Old-5

#6. Gerber^® Singles

And now for the product that didn't make it. Gerber has been successfully making and selling baby food since the 1920s, so in 1974, the company tried making food for adults. Gerber launched Gerber Singles, small portions of food marketed to single adults. One strike against this product was its packaging – the jars were nearly identical to those used for baby food. Gerber soon learned most consumers, beyond infancy, did not want to eat pureed meals from baby food jars. The company pulled this ill-fated attempt from shelves not long after it launched. This is one 1974 product we're glad was short-lived. You'd Never Guess These Food Products are 50 Years Old-6

Adult baby food notwithstanding, the other products are still with us today. Happy golden anniversary to the brands that continue to define our culture and shape our experiences.

References: 20 Iconic Things Turning 50 in 2024 | How the CIA Has Used the Meow Mix Jingle | How Yoplait Got Its Start | Funky Fries and Other Foods That Flopped | Skittles Bite Sized Candies Backgrounder