Starburst (candy)
Mars | |
Produced by | The Wrigley Company |
---|---|
Country | United Kingdom |
Introduced | 1960 |
Markets | Asia, Canada, Europe, United States and Mexico |
Tagline | Unexplainably Juicy |
Website | www |
Starburst (originally known as Opal Fruits) is the
Introduced in the United Kingdom in 1960, the regular flavours are blackcurrant, lemon and lime, orange and strawberry.[1][2]
History
The brand was introduced by
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Opalfruits.jpg/220px-Opalfruits.jpg)
The brand name Opal Fruits was phased out in the UK, followed by
Starburst in the UK is vegetarian, its packaging and website clearly stating "Suitable for Vegetarians", and also does not contain any artificial colours or flavours.[10] In the US, Starburst contains non-vegan gelatin in its ingredients.
Lime Starburst made a comeback in 2007 as a limited-edition "retro" flavour in packages of the "Baja" version, while the range in the UK was further extended with a version named Starburst Choozers. These lozenge shaped chews have a liquid fruit juice centre, and come packaged with the tag line "The chews that ooze." Each packet contains three flavours; Orange & Mango, Raspberry & Orange and Pineapple & Orange.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/All_Opal_fruits_unwrapped_aug_21.jpg/220px-All_Opal_fruits_unwrapped_aug_21.jpg)
As of August 2016, the advertising slogan for Starburst is "Unexplainably Juicy".[3]
During March 2020, the Opal Fruits name was revived again for a limited period in the UK with a 152g bag available in Poundland and Dealz stores initially, which included the four original flavours (lemon, strawberry, orange, lime).[11]
Starburst products were entirely discontinued in New Zealand in April 2021,[12] and in Australia in June 2022.[13] Starburst-branded products had been sold in Australia since 1996.[14]
The European Union's top food regulators found in 2021 that titanium dioxide, an additive found in Starbursts, could damage DNA, which in turn could lead to cancer.[15] This resulted in the EU phasing out sale of Starbursts and other foods containing titanium dioxide starting February 7, 2022, with a full ban enacted August 7, 2022.[16]
In March 2023, Democratic California Assemblyman
Marketing
In the 1970s, Opal Fruits were well known in the UK for their advertising tag line "Opal Fruits—made to make your mouth water!" (slogan coined by Murray Walker[18]). The full advertising jingle was "Opal Fruits—made to make your mouth water/Fresh with the tang of citrus/four refreshing fruit flavors/orange, lemon, strawberry, lime/Opal Fruits—made to make your mouth water!"
Starburst has been marketed in several ways, including a marketing tie-in for the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest where they replaced Kiwi Banana and Tropical Punch with Royal Berry Punch.
In 2002, Starburst created a song for the Australian market called "Get Your Juices Going". It was released as a CD single and attributed to a fictional pop group also called Starburst.[19]
In 2007, a commercial for Starburst's Berries and Creme flavour went
In the second half of 2021, the Berries and Creme commercial went viral for a second time, with a number of videos on TikTok using the audio and the "Little Lad Dance".[25]
Other varieties
Starburst also exists or has existed in the form of vines "fruit twists",
A range of non-taffy Starburst products for the Australian and New Zealand markets were produced from 1997 to 2020; products included 'Snakes' gummies and 'Sucks' lollipops.[14][33]
References
- ^ "Starburst: Original".
- ^ "Starburst: Facts and History".
- ^ a b c "Starburst". Wrigley.com. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4614-9382-2.
- ^ UK Starburst Flavors And American Starburst Flavors: A Comparison
- ^ "Global branding chews up Opal Fruits". BBC News. 27 April 1998. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ Mercer, Charles (1 May 2008). "Opal Fruits return to British playgrounds". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 May 2008.
- ^ "Wrigley Completes Merger with Mars". Wrigley.com (Press release). Chicago. PRNewswire-FirstCall. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Mars-Wrigley merger creates world's largest confectionery player". Confectionary News. 29 April 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Wrigley UK's Starburst Profile". Wrigley.com. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
- ^ "Opal Fruits are making a comeback 22 years after changing to Starburst". 21 January 2020.
- ^ Mcilraith, Brianna (10 August 2022). "RIP Starburst: Popular lollies discontinued in NZ due to rising costs". Stuff. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ "Starburst lollies discontinued in Australia". www.9news.com.au. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Wrigley.com.au : STARBURST®". Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
- ^ "Study: Additive found in Skittles and Starburst no longer considered safe | Environmental Working Group". www.ewg.org. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ "European Union: Titanium Dioxide Banned as a Food Additive in the EU | USDA Foreign Agricultural Service". fas.usda.gov. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Smith, Dana G. (18 October 2023). "What to Know About the 4 Food Additives Banned by California". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Owen, Oliver (1 July 2007). "Interview: Murray Walker". The Guardian. London, UK. Archived from the original on 2 October 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- The Age. 17 September 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Updated: The Best Ad Jingles Ever". IGN. 9 May 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ "Watch some of the worst commercials on-air". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ "We Are All Little Lads". AdAge.com. Advertising Age. 27 April 2007. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Little Lad Produces Big Laughs in Genius Masterfoods Spot". AdAge.com. Advertising Age. 7 May 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ "Brief interviews with commercial actors: Jack Ferver on being Starburst's Little Lad". Adweek. 24 October 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
- ^ "DeepTok is taking over TikTok with berries and cream videos". Mashable. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ Finn, Carina (20 August 2020). "Fruit Snacks From The '90s You'll Sadly Never Have Again". Mashed. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Walmart Is Selling Starburst Duos Gelatin That You Should Definitely Make Jell-O Shots With". Delish. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Barganier, Erich (29 September 2021). "Everything You Need To Know About The New Starburst-Flavored Energy Drinks". Mashed. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ cosmeticsdesign.com (20 June 2006). "Starburst candies becomes the new name for shower products". cosmeticsdesign.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Yoplait Released Starburst Yogurt In 4 Different Flavors And, Yes, Pink Is Included". Delish. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Starburst Is Bringing Back Its Heart-shaped Jelly Beans For Valentine's Day". KSBY News. 10 January 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ Starostinetskaya, Anna. "Is Starburst Finally Launching Its First Vegan Gummy Candy in the US?". VegNews.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
- ^ "Starburst Brand Silently Retired in Australia". OzBargain. Retrieved 27 June 2022.