Many thanks and curses to Ryan at About Miami, who blogged about Euro sensation Mika and led to me finding this song which I can’t get out of my head! The connection between snack food obsessions and weight gain is well-documented, so for all of the ladies who have lost the battle of the bulge enjoy this song … contrary to popular belief, just because you have gained some pounds does not mean you have lost your beauty.
Transform-A-Snack is a snack product made by Red Mill Foods that sounds limited edition, but is not. Most Americans have never heard of them, which is why there are some misconceptions that they are limited edition foods. In fact, the snacks are popular in the U.K. and have simply altered their packaging to tie in with the Transformers movie. There are rumors they will be offered on a limited edition basis in the U.S. this summer, however, in which case they would transform from a traditional snack food into a limited edition food.
The snacks come in several flavors, including Pickled Onion, and can be “transformed into a moon buggy.” Not quite sure how that works, but it sure sounds cool.
Red Mill Foods, Transformers, snacks, Transform-A-Snack, onion, promo, U.K.
Krusty O’s, the famous cereal from The Simpsons, are now available as a limited edition food. Convenience store chain 7-11 has joined forces with the movie and turned several locations nationwide into Kwik-E-Marts, a reference to the local convenience store in the cartoon that is owned by fan-favorite Abu.
Airheads candies made a special limited edition “New Wave” flavor of its candy bar to promote the movie Surf’s Up. Finding that specific version of Airheads has proved challenging, but if the very concept makes you crave tangy fruity candy of an unidentifiable texture then you can get the variety pack shown above at Sam’s Club.
How do you tell the difference between a true limited edition food and faux limited edition food? The former is a truly unique food item, the latter is usually the same food item in a different package. When a cereal is created just for a movie, or a company makes a new pink version of a candy bar to promote breast cancer awareness, or something NEW is done that actually alters the food production process … that is a limited edition food. When the food product remains the same but the packaging features a cartoon character then that is simply a promo, not a new food. Make sense?
The exception would be when a company creates a food that probably is the same as another food they already sell, but they don’t try to tie the two together. So, hypothetically, the giant General Mills Company might sell Mr. Smithers Checkered Tie Cereal with brown and blonde checkered cereal. Close observers might think this is two different types of Chex cereal that have not been sold together before, but the packaging is fully unique and the company claims this is a whole new cereal. So this is still a limited edition food, because two items are being sold together in a unique way for a limited time and the packaging is completely focused on the limited edition purpose without the major brand tie-in. Make sense?
That is my personal opinion anyway … what do you think?
Valomilk is an old school candy, the exact opposite of a limited edition food. Valomilks have fed candy lovers for generations, and it is only appropriate to end June with a nod to their dominance. June is both National Candy Month and National Dairy Month, so of course that means we must also have a picture of a milk chocolate cow.
Aquiring a Valomilk can be challenging, especially if you live outside of middle America. They are made with very high quality ingredients and do not travel well, but when you find one it is worth it. For a fascinating and detailed narrative review of the Valomilk, check out Cybele’s five part series on this national treasure over at Candyblog. For an extended ode to Valomilks and other old school candies, be sure to check out Steve Almond’s classic Candy Freak.
chocolate, marshmallow, Valomilk, candy, steve almond, candy freak, cow
You know a candy bar is good when it inspires its own YouTube video, and shows up in someone’s vacation blog as one of the highlights of the trip. The Hershey’s Special Dark with Macadamia Nuts and Raspberries sounds like a winner for dark chocolate lovers, but it has been out since early Spring so if you see one on the shelves grab it while you can.
Hershey, dark chocolate, chocolate, Macademia, youtube, candy
Lay’s has a limited edition Rosemary & Herb flavor on the shelves this summer. The new chip received a decent review from Taquitos.net. My personal review is that they were a bit overpowering, but in an era where chips compete for the most flavorful that probably will not dissuade the average snacker.
Rumors are rampant this week that 7-11 may be converting up to a dozen stores nationwide into “Kwik-E-Mart”s where Abu fans can buy Krusty O’s and other Simpsons themed merchandise in what may be one of the most ambitious move tie-ins of all time.
Time is limited for confirmation, because the Simpsons movie opens July 26. 7-11 is refusing to confirm the plan, but fans are hopeful. Personally I am hopeful that they remove that Jagged Metal O that Krusty promises before those boxes hit the shelves, whether they are sold at Kwik-E-Mart or not.
This limited edition version of Hershey’s Take 5 candy bar may no longer be available via retail, but you can still get it online from sites like CandyDirect.com or TheOnlineCandyShop.com.
Welcome to the Limited Edition Foods blog, a place to talk about the fun and finances of limited edition food products. Limited Edition Food products provide the perfect intersection of pop culture, mass marketing, sugary snacks, current events, and public policy. What better subject for a blog?
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