Atomic fireballs.
Posted: February 28, 2006 Filed under: Uncategorized 12 Comments »
I received this email from Miz Liz today. With permission, I am sharing it with you…
Hi. As I sit here enjoying an atomic fireball (purchased on Sunday at the Visionary Arts Museum Gift shop – did you know that it’s one of my favorite candies?), I found myself pondering its caloric content. Much to my surprise, I learned that there is no cinnamon in an atomic fireball. Go figure. Here are the fun facts from everything2 for the geek in us all…
- There is NO CINNAMON in an Atomic Fireball.
- In 1954, Nello Ferrera (the son of famed confectioner Salvatore Ferrera) came up with idea to create a spicy candy.
- Within three weeks of presenting his ‘Atomic Fireball’ to the candy industry, Ferrara Pan was taking in orders of over 50,000 cases a day.
- It takes two weeks to make an Atomic Fireball.
- Starting from a single grain of sugar, placed in a heated revolving drum. The grain is tossed around while ingredients like liquid sugar and artificial flavoring are added. When the ball reaches the desired size, it’s polished, glazed, and packaged with its fiery brethren.
- Over 15 million fireballs are consumed each week… 2 million sent out in each truckload.
- One piece has 40 calories, 0g fat, 0mg sodium, Calories: 40
- Ingredients: Sucrose, Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Corn Starch, Artificial Flavor, Carnauba Wax, Corn Syrup, Color Added, Yellow #5, Yellow #5 Lake, Blue #1, Blue #2, Yellow #6, Red #40, Red #40 Lake, and Red #3.
I love those things! Must rush out and buy some now. They are MUCH better than Hostess snoballs.
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Never had one, but I will try it. (but I doubt it is as good as a Hostess Sno Ball)
….jelly krimpets…..
Neil – you’ve really never had a fireball? I’m stunned.
SB – I love Jelly Krimpets! My grandmother used to bring a big box every week. We would split them open and pick out the jelly balls first. Yummy!
never had a fireball or a Jelly Krimpet…but Hostess sno balls, well that’s another story.
I am frightened by the fact that there is no cinnamon in those things. Kinda makes me wonder whether I want to know what the cinnamon taste in them is.
Damn, now I have a craving for Goetz caramel cremes. Thanks a lot!
This is actually quite intriguing and unexpected. No cinammon in a fireball? How can that be!?
Now if only we could find out how many licks it actually took to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop.
Thanks for the positive feedback on my education post…I hope you visit again!:)
I looked up the article on Atomic Fireball on Everything2.com and it DID say something about cinnamon…
“by Accipiter- Sat Nov 13 1999 at 14:50:04
Small red spherical candy, usually wrapped in clear plastic, and containing sugar and excessive amounts of cinnamon. Because of the high cinnamon concentration of this candy, upon placing it in the mouth, the spice assaults your mouth giving the sensation of spicy candy.”
Emu – I went to doublecheck the ingredients and this site agrees – no cinammon. I think Accipiter might be wrong. I’ll buy some and look!
Janet – thanks for stopping by! L’il Kim wonders about the Tootsie Roll too.
Tom – Goetz’s! It’s been too long. In 2nd grade, we took a tour of that factory for a field trip!
Crusin – I think it’s time. Pick up a fireball at the C-Store. They’re about 10 cents. Jelly Krimpets are only in the Mid-Atlantic area, I think! So that might have to wait!
Check out this page. It says that Atomic Fireballs use cinnamon oil. That might be considered an “artificial flavoring,” which would explain why there’s no mention of cinnamon in the ingredients list.
Cinammon oil, huh? Thanks, Tom! (Need a job? I know a research firm….)
It’s been a long time since I had one of these; are they the ones you have to keep taking out of your mouth and setting down somewhere so you can cool off?
Cinnamon oil: When we were in junior high, my sister and I would soak toothpicks in cinnamon oil, then pass them out at school, everyone would suck all the cinnamon out of them. Teachers must have wanted to kill us.
GNG – YES those! I forgot we used to take them out to rest!
Cinammon oil on toothpicks. Now that’s a low calorie snack!