Pop-Tarts are a flat rectangular toaster pastry approximately 3 in (75 mm) by 4.5 in (115 mm), made by the Kellogg Company. Pop-Tarts have a sugary filling sealed inside two layers of rectangular, thin pastry crust; each layer of this crust is about 0.1 in (2 mm) thick. Most varieties have frosting, but some do not. They can be eaten without being warmed, but are often warmed inside a toaster, or microwave. (More recently, certain varieties have been marketed as tasting best when left to cool in the freezer.) They are usually sold in pairs inside foil packages, and do not require refrigeration.
Pop-Tarts are Kellogg's most popular brand, with more than two billion Pop-Tarts sold each year. According to Kellogg's, Pop-Tarts should always be pronounced as a plural, never "Pop-Tart" in the singular form. They are distributed mainly in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom and Canada. Pop-Tarts were discontinued in Australia in 2005. To some extent, the brand name "Pop-Tart" has become a “genericized” trademark describing any toaster pastry.
Pop-Tarts were originally released a mere six months after Kellogg’s main competitor, Post, began marketing their Country Squares in 1963. These were both influenced by Chinese attempts to enclose dog food in foil in order to keep it fresh without refrigeration. Throughout its now over 40 year campaign, Pop-Tarts have become a part of cultural identity as much as anything. I am personally surprised that Andy Warhol didn’t include them in one of his works, although works by Toulouse- Lautrec, P. Cezanne, and S. Dali have been edited to feature this item.
For years, Pop-Tarts have been a cultural symbol of our generation and its need for immediate satisfaction. Breakfast, or any "meal", doesn't get much easier that this. It is instantly ready to be eaten and can be taken anywhere. Also, the shelf-life is probably longer than the life-cycle of most deep sea turtles. They are packaged in 44 standard flavors, advertising everything from Pokémon™ to artificial fruits, and these are only the full-sugar versions in ordinary shapes.
But, apparently, our society has been pushing the bar on the desire for instant satisfaction: Recently, Kellogg released what they are calling Go-Tarts, a spin-off of the standard Pop-Tarts in snack bar form in order to make it more accessible for the typical American lifestyle. It is believed that this product release was inspired by Go-Gurt, a portable yogurt made by Yoplait (designed for kids), which was released several years ago. One source is quoted as saying, “I’m sorry, I was under the impression that Pop-Tarts were already pretty well-suited to ‘go’ eating. Ask any college student in America — all you need is seventy-five cents for a pair of foil-wrapped -Tarts from the nearest vending machine, and your walk from one class to the next becomes a meal. Sure, they taste better toasted, but eating a raw Pop-Tart never hurt anybody.”
Go-Tarts are currently only available in three flavors, but they can be purchased in nearly ever grocery store in America. Amazon lists similar items as “Kraft Easy Mac Cups, Original, 2.05-Ounce Microwave Cups (Pack of 12)”, “Kool Aid, Assorted, 0.16-Ounce Packets (Pack of 72)”, “Slim Jim Original, 100-Count Box”, and “Pampers Cruisers, Size 3, Economy Plus Pack, 160 Cruisers”.
There is a poorly-veiled comical theme behind this new product. Popular comedian Brian Regan has been known to speak on new products incorporating both peanut butter and jelly in the same Jar: “I gotta try to imagine the guy who needs that! ‘I’m in the mood for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…nah, I can’t be opening all kinds of jars! I’m not going to be using two knives…’” I personally have a hard time imagining the person needing to eat but not finding the time to unwrap and eat standard Pop-Tarts. As another source said, “Weren’t Pop-Tarts already a ‘to-go’ item?”
Sources: Amazon, The Blue Pages, Detroit News, Jefito Blog, Law.com, Whole Pop Magazine, and Wikipedia
Pop-Tarts are Kellogg's most popular brand, with more than two billion Pop-Tarts sold each year. According to Kellogg's, Pop-Tarts should always be pronounced as a plural, never "Pop-Tart" in the singular form. They are distributed mainly in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom and Canada. Pop-Tarts were discontinued in Australia in 2005. To some extent, the brand name "Pop-Tart" has become a “genericized” trademark describing any toaster pastry.
Pop-Tarts were originally released a mere six months after Kellogg’s main competitor, Post, began marketing their Country Squares in 1963. These were both influenced by Chinese attempts to enclose dog food in foil in order to keep it fresh without refrigeration. Throughout its now over 40 year campaign, Pop-Tarts have become a part of cultural identity as much as anything. I am personally surprised that Andy Warhol didn’t include them in one of his works, although works by Toulouse- Lautrec, P. Cezanne, and S. Dali have been edited to feature this item.
For years, Pop-Tarts have been a cultural symbol of our generation and its need for immediate satisfaction. Breakfast, or any "meal", doesn't get much easier that this. It is instantly ready to be eaten and can be taken anywhere. Also, the shelf-life is probably longer than the life-cycle of most deep sea turtles. They are packaged in 44 standard flavors, advertising everything from Pokémon™ to artificial fruits, and these are only the full-sugar versions in ordinary shapes.
But, apparently, our society has been pushing the bar on the desire for instant satisfaction: Recently, Kellogg released what they are calling Go-Tarts, a spin-off of the standard Pop-Tarts in snack bar form in order to make it more accessible for the typical American lifestyle. It is believed that this product release was inspired by Go-Gurt, a portable yogurt made by Yoplait (designed for kids), which was released several years ago. One source is quoted as saying, “I’m sorry, I was under the impression that Pop-Tarts were already pretty well-suited to ‘go’ eating. Ask any college student in America — all you need is seventy-five cents for a pair of foil-wrapped -Tarts from the nearest vending machine, and your walk from one class to the next becomes a meal. Sure, they taste better toasted, but eating a raw Pop-Tart never hurt anybody.”
Go-Tarts are currently only available in three flavors, but they can be purchased in nearly ever grocery store in America. Amazon lists similar items as “Kraft Easy Mac Cups, Original, 2.05-Ounce Microwave Cups (Pack of 12)”, “Kool Aid, Assorted, 0.16-Ounce Packets (Pack of 72)”, “Slim Jim Original, 100-Count Box”, and “Pampers Cruisers, Size 3, Economy Plus Pack, 160 Cruisers”.
There is a poorly-veiled comical theme behind this new product. Popular comedian Brian Regan has been known to speak on new products incorporating both peanut butter and jelly in the same Jar: “I gotta try to imagine the guy who needs that! ‘I’m in the mood for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich…nah, I can’t be opening all kinds of jars! I’m not going to be using two knives…’” I personally have a hard time imagining the person needing to eat but not finding the time to unwrap and eat standard Pop-Tarts. As another source said, “Weren’t Pop-Tarts already a ‘to-go’ item?”
Sources: Amazon, The Blue Pages, Detroit News, Jefito Blog, Law.com, Whole Pop Magazine, and Wikipedia