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'[[File:Welch's Fruit Snacks (4239096810).jpg|thumb|Welch's fruit snacks]] A '''fruit snack''' is a [[processed food]] eaten as a [[snack food|snack]] in the United States. Fruit snacks are very similar to [[Gummi candy|gummi candies]].<ref name=":0">{{cite book|first1 = Samira|last1 = Kawash|title = Candy: A Century of Panic and Pleasure|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=g_5DAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA323|publisher = Macmillan|date = 2013-10-15|isbn = 9780865477568|page = 322–323}}</ref> The main content is [[sugar]], especially sugar derived from concentrated [[white grape juice]] and [[apple juice]].<ref name=":0" /> Some fruit snacks have more sugar than gummi candies, and they usually have less protein.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title = Don’t Be Fooled Into Thinking Welch’s Fruit Snacks Are Any Healthier Than Candy|url = http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/09/25/welch_s_fruit_snacks_lawsuit_fruit_snacks_are_not_healthy_or_nutritious.html|newspaper = Slate|date = 2015-09-25|access-date = 2015-09-28|issn = 1091-2339|language = en|first = Melinda Wenner|last = Moyer}}</ref> The main differences between gummi candies and fruit snacks are the [[marketing]] and [[advertising]] approaches, and the use of refined sugar from fruits rather than from beets, corn, or sugar cane. Well-known manufacturers of chewy fruit snacks include Promotion In Motion ([[Welch's]] brand), [[Kellogg's]], [[General Mills]]<ref>[http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2013/07/greatest-fruit-snacks-of-all-time/]</ref> and [[Betty Crocker]]. Fruit snacks gained popularity from their convenience and candy-like taste. Most are stored in a simple plastic packaging that does not need to be refrigerated; therefore they can be taken virtually anywhere. However, they do have an [[Shelf life|expiration date]]. Fruit snacks range in the amount of fruit content. Some, like Welch's, contain fruit purees. Others only have trace amounts of [[juice]], in addition to sugar. [[Fruit leather]]s differ in that they have a different shape. The ingredients may be the same, or they may be made primarily from pureed, dried fruit and concentrated, high-sugar fruit juice. ==Nutrition== More than half the weight of the fruit snacks is simple sugars.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = Basic Report: 19013, Snacks, fruit leather, pieces|url = http://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/6014|website = National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (Release 27)|accessdate = 2015-09-28|publisher = Agricultural Research Service, [[United States Department of Agriculture]]}}</ref> They also contain an average of 12% water by weight, 25% starch, a small amount of fat, and a negligible amount of protein.<ref name=":2" /> == Price == As of 2015, fruit snacks generally cost two to five times the price of gummy bears.<ref name=":1" /> ==History== The modern, highly processed fruit snack has nothing in common with [[dried fruit]] or [[candy]]. The first modern fruit snack was [[Joray Fruit Rolls]], which were developed by [[confectioner]] Louis Shalhoub in the 1970s.<ref name=":0" /> It was used by backpackers as a lightweight, high-energy food rather than as healthful-sounding candy for children. The name ''fruit snack'' was first used in 1983 by General Mills, which they used to describe their version of Shalhoub's product, Fruit Roll-Ups, which contained far more sugar.<ref name=":0" /> By the mid-1980s, the fruit snack was a multimillion-dollar business. ==Well-known companies== ===Betty Crocker via General Mills=== [[File:Fruit Rollups, Fruit Gushers and Fruit by the Foot.jpg|thumb|Three fruit snacks from General Mills (from left): [[Fruit Roll-Ups]], [[Fruit Gushers]] and [[Fruit by the Foot]]]] [[General Mills]], owner of [[Betty Crocker]] products, introduced the first Fruit Corners [[Fruit Roll-Ups]] in 1983 and then [[Fruit by the Foot]]. Fruit Roll-Ups and [[Fruit by the Foot]] are packaged similarly, and the products are rolled around a material so the snack does not stick to itself. However, the two snacks differ with respect to taste, texture, and consistency. [[Fruit Gushers]], <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2013/07/greatest-fruit-snacks-of-all-time/fruit-gushers|title=Fruit Gushers - The 25 Greatest Fruit Snacks of All Time - Complex|date=25 July 2013|website=Complex}}</ref>) are [[fruit snack]]s in the shape of [[elongated hexagonal bipyramid]]s, which made primarily from sugar and fruit juice, with small amounts of other ingredients. Introduced in 1991, they are produced by [[General Mills]] under the [[Betty Crocker]] brand name, and may be found in generic forms as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.fffwkakmaizmszjsjJajdgahwhagahscom/1991-12-19/features/9102220711_1_flavor-age-thing-snack|title=Kids` Snack Gushes With Fruit Flavor|work=Sun Sentinel}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.generalmills.com/Home/Brands/Snacks/Fruit%20Snacks/Brand%20Product%20List%20Page.aspx#{57546B5C-D377-4D5E-B280-9CCF6C771C94} |title=Fruit Snacks Product List |website=Generalmills.com |date= |accessdate=2012-06-28}}</ref> ===Welch's === Among the many product types under the Welch's brand are Welch’s Fruit Snacks, which are manufactured and marketed under license by The Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc. Welch’s Fruit Snacks are made with fruit purees and juices, among other ingredients. In 2015, a class-action lawsuit was filed in California against Welch's Fruit Snacks, alleging illegal supplementation with vitamins, in violation of the [[jelly bean rule]]. The jelly bean rule prohibits food manufacturers from deceiving consumers into buying candy by adding vitamins and marketing the candy as a healthful food.<ref name=":1" /> Promotion in Motion, Inc., which manufactures Welch's fruit snacks under license,<ref name=FoodNav_PIM>{{cite news|last1=Watson|first1=Elaine|title=Welch’s fruit snacks are ‘no more healthful than candy’, says false advertising lawsuit|url=http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Regulation/Welch-s-fruit-snacks-are-no-more-healthful-than-candy-says-lawsuit|agency=Food Navigator|date=23 Sep 2015}}</ref> replied that the complaint is without merit,<ref name=PNS_False>{{cite news|last1=Hamm|first1=Nia|title=Lawsuit: Welch’s Fruit Snacks “No More Healthful Than Candy”|url=http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2015-10-12/health-issues/lawsuit-welchs-fruit-snacks-no-more-healthful-than-candy/a48487-1|work=false and misleading|agency=Public News Service|date=12 Oct 2015}}</ref> "It is a fact that fruit, whether in the form of juices or more recently purees, has always been the first ingredient in Welch’s Fruit Snacks. Our labeling is truthful and gives consumers the information they need to make informed decisions.”<ref name=Aroq_PIM>{{cite news|last1=Askew|first1=Katy|title=Welch's dismisses challenge to snacks health claims|url=http://www.just-food.com/news/welchs-dismisses-challenge-to-snacks-health-claims_id131187.aspx|agency=Aroq Ltd|publisher=Just-Food|date=25 Sep 2015}}</ref> The case has not yet been settled. ===Kellogg's=== [[Kellogg Company|Kellogg's]] created "Fruit Winders" in the UK, which is similar to the American [[Fruit by the Foot]] by General Mills, only in fewer flavors. Unlike Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Winders contain no artificial colorings and each flavor is made with real purée derived from the fruit it represents (e.g. the strawberry flavour contains real strawberry purée). Fruit Winders were introduced in the UK and Ireland in 2001 under the Kellogg's brand. The product was first called "Real Fruit Winders", which was later changed to "Screamin Fruit Winders" before being changed finally to "Kellogg's Fruit Winders". When the product first came out, the flavors were Orange, Strawberry and Blackcurrant, with Apple introduced shortly after. Later, a public call-in contest was held where people would vote for a new Fruit Winders flavor. The choices were Tropical, Raspberry and Lemon. The winning flavor was Tropical, but Raspberry and Lemon were introduced later on afterwards. In 2006, Fruit Winders discontinued the Orange, Tropical, Raspberry and Lemon flavors along with the spin-off products, and made the strands small enough ti fit two on each winder. Apple and Blackcurrant were placed into the Doubles, including brands with Strawberry, leaving Strawberry the only flavour to be sold as a single packets, but with two smaller winders. As of 2017, there had been a new flavor of Very Cherry added, and is sold only in select stores. The spin-off products were a squeezable product called '''Screamin Fruit Squidgers''' and gummy candies with a liquid centre, which were called '''Screamin Fruit Spurters'''. These were discontinued in 2006. The television adverts for Fruit Winders showed a fruit with eyes and a mouth being winded into a Fruit Winder by a character that was a humanoid version of the fruit it was harming, these ads often had the slogan "Unwind the fruity fun, FOREVER!". On the paper attached to the Fruit Winder, a comic strip is shown, it shows a comic of the characters winding the fruit. Every Winder has a different story or way of being winded. '''Fruit Winder Gang''' *''Sorbabe'' the Female Strawberry DJ *''Blabber'' the Male Orange Jokester *''Booster'' the Male Blackcurrent Genius *''Max'' the Female Apple Athlete *''Voodoo'' the Male Tropical Witch Doctor * Unknown Female Lemon Genie * Unknown Male Raspberry Secret Agent * Unknown Cherry Character === Other brands === [[Annie's Homegrown]] Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, owned by General Mills, uses sugar refined from sweet [[cassava]] roots.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/09/25/welch_s_fruit_snacks_lawsuit_fruit_snacks_are_not_healthy_or_nutritious.html|date=September 25, 2015|author=Moyer, Melinda Wenner |title= Don’t Be Fooled Into Thinking Welch’s Fruit Snacks Are Any Healthier Than Candy | }}</ref> Sunkist has manufactured and licensed several fruit snacks brands: *[[Sunkist Fun Fruits]] was a [[License|licensed]] [[snack food]] from [[Leaf Confections]] Limited, manufactured with [[fruit]] from [[Sunkist Growers, Incorporated]] and packaged by Thomas J. Lipton. The snack, which was introduced in 1987, was small, soft, and pellet shaped. Initially, the product was available in four flavors: [[cherry]], [[grape]], [[Orange (fruit)|orange]] and [[strawberry]]. Later that year, assorted shapes, such as [[Dinosaur|dinosaurs]] and [[rock 'n' roll]]<nowiki/>shapes, were introduced in order to appeal to [[Child|children]]. With the dismantling of Leaf Confections, Sunkist licensed the production of fruit snacks:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sunkist.com|website=Sunkist|title=Sunkist Fun Fruits}} </ref> **Sunkist First Fruit Snacks, in [[Canada]], are manufactured by [[Ganong Bros.]] Limited **Sunkist Fruit Gems are manufactured by the Ben Myerson Candy Company **Sunkist Fruit Snacks are manufactured by [[General Mills]], Inc. ==References== <references /> {{DEFAULTSORT:Fruit Snack}} [[Category:American snack foods]]'