In1936, Jell-O pudding was invented. It has been popular for 70 years!
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The first Jell-O product - gelatin - hit store shelves in 1897. In 1923, Genesee Pure Food Company, maker of Jell-O gelatin, produced a sugar-free dessert called D-Zerta. Later, in 1936, Jell-O pudding was invented and became an immediate success. Following World War II, American consumers were responding favorably to fast-acting and convenient products, prompting General Foods' management to begin looking for a way to speed up the preparation process for Jell-O pudding, which had to cool before it could be eaten.
The company was challenged to develop an instant pudding product that could be ready in less than 30 minutes. Incorporating an innovative mixture of milk, phosphates, and potato starch, an instant recipe was first introduced in U.S. consumer test markets in 1950, achieved national distribution by 1953. The instant pudding took only five minutes to make and could be eaten right away.
By the 1980s, consumers had demonstrated a demand for desserts that were already prepared. Single-serving, ready-to-eat Jell-O Pudding Snacks were introduced in 1985. Now consumers were clamoring for another ready-to-eat snack. The Jell-O R&D team set out to make a Jell-O gelatin version of the pudding snacks. Using an innovative gelatin system, the ready-to-eat Jell-O cups achieved significant success among consumers and became a complementary product to the Jell-O pudding snacks. More than 100 products featuring gelatin, pudding, no bake desserts and ready-to-eat snacks now appear under the Jell-O brand.