Space Sticks

[aichambaye at yahoo.com]

I was curious, so I went looking. Here's what I found, word for word, 
at this URL: http://www.retrofuture.com/spacefood.html There is also 
a nifty pic at the site - and a bunch of other "space food" info.

**

Pillsbury used their role on Apollo 11 as a launching pad for a spin-
off which they imaginatively dubbed Space Food Sticks. The Tootsie 
Roll-like candy came in several flavors including caramel, chocolate, 
malt, mint, orange and the ever-popular peanut butter. 

Aficionados will recall that the Space Food Sticks came wrapped in 
special foil to give them a space age look. The front of each pack 
featured an illustration of an anonymous astronaut happily chomping 
on a Space Food Stick. The box clarified the important role the 
development sticks played "in support of the U.S. Aerospace Program."

It turns out Pillsbury's aggressive marketing ruffled a few a 
feathers in the nation's capital. One year after Space Food Sticks 
were introduced, the Bureau of Deceptive Practices undertook an 
investigation of Pillsbury's claim they were "ounce for ounce" as 
nutritious as milk. A document issued by the company in response--
available at NASA's archives--asserted the snacks were "suitable as 
total food replacement" in the unlikely chance that no other foods 
were available.

**