Decoder Ring Mailbag: Fruit Snacks, Waterbeds, and Lobster Tanks
Dec 18, 2024
This mailbag episode dives into intriguing cultural curiosities. Ever wondered why grocery stores keep live lobsters in tanks? Or how fruit snacks evolved from their gummy counterparts? The rise and fall of scented magazine ads sparks nostalgia, while the waterbed's inventor shares its quirky history. From lobsters' transformation from peasant fare to a luxury item, the conversation highlights ethical considerations and societal shifts, making this a delightful exploration of unexpected topics that provoke thought and laughter.
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Fruit Snack Epiphany
- Listener Steve Woods ate fruit snacks regularly as a child, believing them to be wholesome.
- Later, he realized they were essentially gummy bears marketed as a healthier alternative.
Fruit Snack Origins
- Fruit snacks, despite resembling gummy bears, originated from fruit rolls like Joray Fruit Rolls.
- General Mills capitalized on this with Fruit Roll-Ups, leading to a surge of similar fruit snacks.
Fruit Snack Nutrition
- Fruit snacks contain stripped fruit juices, devoid of most nutritional benefits, claims Steve Gardner, a food lawyer.
- Companies exploit labeling laws by including minimal fruit byproducts and marketing them as "real fruit."