Lyla Lindsey
Pop Rocks, a type of candy that fizzes and pops in your mouth, has had a controversial history. The product was initially patented in 1961 and released to the public in 1976, but was withdrawn in 1983 due to its short shelf life. Despite extensive testing proving its safety, rumours persisted that eating Pop Rocks with soda would cause a person's stomach to explode. This was fuelled by an urban legend involving child actor John Gilchrist, who was rumoured to have died after consuming Pop Rocks and Coca-Cola. To address these concerns, the FDA set up a hotline and General Foods sent letters to schools and published open letters to parents. Despite these efforts, Pop Rocks faced another challenge when its alternative product, Space Dust, was criticised for its name, which was similar to the street name for the drug PCP. While the product was renamed, it continued to struggle with its reputation.
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What You'll Learn
Pop Rocks' chemical composition
Pop Rocks are made by mixing sugar, lactose (milk sugar), corn syrup, water, and artificial colours and flavours. The solution is heated until the water boils off and is then combined with carbon dioxide gas at about 600 pounds per square inch (psi). When the pressure is released, the candy shatters into small pieces, each containing bubbles of pressurised gas.
Pop Rocks are small pieces of hard candy that have been gasified with carbon dioxide under superatmospheric pressure. When these gasified sugar granules come into contact with moisture, they dissolve and the carbon dioxide retained inside the bubbles is released, causing the characteristic crackling and fizzing sounds.
The carbon dioxide is already present in Pop Rocks, trapped within the rocks of candy. The ingredients (sugar, lactose, corn syrup, and flavours) are heated together and brought to a boil. The mixture is then flushed with carbon dioxide, and as the candy cools, the carbon dioxide ends up trapped within as tiny bubbles.
Pop Rocks differ from typical hard candy in that pressurised carbon dioxide gas bubbles are embedded inside the candy, creating a small popping reaction when it dissolves. The concept was initially patented by General Foods research chemists Leon T. Kremzner and William A. Mitchell in 1961.
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The Mikey rumour
The myth was so pervasive that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set up a hotline to dispel the rumour and assure parents that the candy was safe for children. The FDA emphasised that Pop Rocks would not cause stomach explosions, even when mixed with carbonated drinks. General Foods, the company behind Pop Rocks, also actively battled the "exploding kid" rumours as early as 1979. They sent letters to school principals, created open letters to parents, took out advertisements in major publications, and sent the inventor of Pop Rocks on a road trip to explain the science behind the candy and dispel the myth.
Despite these efforts, the Mikey rumour persisted and even made its way into popular media and fiction. On the first episode of MythBusters, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman tested the rumour by mixing Pop Rocks and cola inside a pig's stomach, along with hydrochloric acid to simulate human stomach acid. Despite the stomach growing to three times its initial size, it did not explode, providing further evidence that the Mikey rumour was indeed just a myth.
The persistence of the Mikey rumour can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the unique characteristics of Pop Rocks as a carbonated candy, the false assumption that it contained an acid/base mixture, and the alarming nature of the rumoured consequences. Additionally, the popularity of the Mikey character in the cereal commercials may have contributed to the spread and longevity of the rumour.
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The product's safety
Pop Rocks are small pieces of hard candy that have been gasified with carbon dioxide under superatmospheric pressure. When the candy comes into contact with moisture, it dissolves, releasing carbon dioxide bubbles and causing a crackling and fizzing sound. The product is safe to consume, despite rumours to the contrary.
Pop Rocks were initially patented in 1961 and offered to the public in 1976. However, they were withdrawn in 1983 due to a lack of success in the marketplace and a relatively short shelf life. The product was not banned in Australia or anywhere else, but its distribution was controlled to ensure freshness.
The rumours that Pop Rocks were dangerous likely stemmed from the misconception that the candy contained an acid/base mixture that would produce large volumes of gas when mixed with saliva. There was also a false rumour that child actor John Gilchrist, who played Little Mikey in 1970s cereal commercials, died after consuming Pop Rocks and Coca-Cola. These rumours were so pervasive that the FDA set up a hotline to reassure parents that the candy was safe and would not cause children's stomachs to explode.
To dispel these myths, General Foods sent letters to school principals, published an open letter to parents, took out advertisements in major publications, and sent the inventor of Pop Rocks on a roadshow to explain that the product contained less gas than half a can of soda. Despite these efforts, the rumours persisted, and in the 1980s, another rumour circulated that the chemical reaction that made the candy pop could also be deadly if consumed in excess. General Foods again responded with a full-page public service announcement in the Detroit Free Press, assuring parents that the candy's carbonation was "equal to less than one-tenth the amount in a can of soda pop," making it scientifically impossible to cause any harm.
In summary, while Pop Rocks did face challenges due to safety concerns and rumours, they were never banned in Australia or any other market. The product is safe to consume, and any concerns about its safety have been thoroughly addressed by the manufacturer and relevant authorities.
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Pop Rocks' popularity
Pop Rocks, also known as popping candy, is a type of candy that differs from typical hard candy due to the presence of pressurized carbon dioxide gas bubbles embedded inside. When the candy dissolves, these bubbles create a unique popping reaction, resulting in a characteristic crackling and fizzing sound. The brand POP ROCKS® is synonymous with this type of candy and enjoys high brand recognition. The product is marketed towards children and teenagers who seek fun, exciting, and unique experiences.
Pop Rocks was initially patented in 1961 by General Foods research chemists Leon T. Kremzner and William A. Mitchell, with a subsequent patent by General Foods in 1981. However, it wasn't until 1976 that Pop Rocks became available to the public. Despite its popularity, General Foods withdrew the product in 1983, citing its short shelf life and lack of success in the marketplace. The candy faced challenges due to unauthorized redistribution, which resulted in out-of-date products reaching consumers.
The unique sensory experience of Pop Rocks has even inspired prominent British chef Heston Blumenthal to incorporate it into several desserts. The candy has also made its way into popular culture, with appearances in various forms of media and fiction. One notable example is the myth involving child actor John Gilchrist, who played Little Mikey in 1970s Life cereal commercials. Gilchrist was rumoured to have died after consuming excessive amounts of Pop Rocks and Coca-Cola, leading to widespread concern among parents.
To address these concerns, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set up a hotline to reassure parents that the candy was safe and would not cause their children to choke or explode. General Foods also actively combatted these rumours through various means, including letters to school principals, open letters to parents, advertisements in major publications, and sending the inventor on a road trip to explain the candy's safety. Despite these efforts, Pop Rocks faced challenges in maintaining its success in the marketplace.
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Similar products
Pop Rocks, also known as popping candy, is a type of candy that revolutionized the confectionery industry in the 1970s. The product is made up of small pieces of hard candy that have been gasified with carbon dioxide under pressure. When the candy dissolves in the mouth, the carbon dioxide is released, creating a popping sensation and a fizzing sound.
While Pop Rocks is the most well-known brand of popping candy, there have been similar products on the market. One example is Space Dust, which was also invented by William A. Mitchell and manufactured by General Foods. Space Dust was introduced in 1978, a few years after Pop Rocks hit the market in 1975 (or 1976, according to another source). Unlike Pop Rocks, which consisted of little crystals, Space Dust was a powdered candy. It was marketed for its "out-of-this-world" flavours, such as Galactic Grape, Cosmic Cherry, and Orbiting Orange.
Despite being a similar product, Space Dust never achieved the same level of popularity as Pop Rocks. Its name was also controversial, as many parents found it too similar to "Angel Dust," the street name for the drug PCP. In response to customer concerns, General Foods renamed the product "Cosmic Candy." However, even with the new name and the same outer space-themed packaging, the product's reputation never recovered, and it was eventually discontinued.
Another example of a similar product is a line of products that used Pop Rocks as an ingredient. A former employer of someone on Reddit briefly cornered the world market for such products, which had a lead time of about six months from the US. However, most of these products were eventually deleted, leaving the company with a significant amount of popping candy that was close to the end of its shelf life.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Pop Rocks are not banned in Australia.
Pop Rocks were never banned in Australia, but there were rumours in the 1980s that the chemical reaction caused by the candy could kill someone if consumed in excess, which may have led to the misconception that they were banned.
Pop Rocks are made by dissolving sugars in water and evaporating the mixture at 320 °F (160 °C) until only 3% of its mass is water. The mixture is then cooled to 280 °F (138 °C) and pressurised with carbon dioxide. When the cooled mixture is released from pressure, it shatters into pieces filled with carbon dioxide bubbles. When Pop Rocks are placed in the mouth, the heat and moisture cause the candy to dissolve, releasing the carbon dioxide bubbles and creating a popping noise.
The rumours led to widespread concern, with the Food and Drug Administration setting up a hotline to assure parents that the candy was safe for children and would not cause their stomachs to explode. General Foods, the manufacturer of Pop Rocks, also took several measures to dispel the rumours, including sending letters to school principals and creating an open letter to parents.
