Hot Pockets facts for kids
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| Type | Turnovers, sandwiches, ravioli, pizza, frozen food products |
|---|---|
| Owner | Nestlé |
| Country | U.S. |
| Introduced | 1983 |
| Markets | United States |
| Previous owners | Chef America Inc. |
| Tagline | Irresistibly Hot |
Hot Pockets are a popular American brand of frozen snacks. They are like small, savory turnovers that you can heat up quickly in a microwave. Inside, they usually have different kinds of cheese, meat, or vegetables. Hot Pockets were first created by a company called Chef America Inc.. Since 2002, they have been made by Nestlé, a big food company.
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The Story of Hot Pockets
Hot Pockets were invented by two brothers, Paul and David Merage. They owned a company called Chef America Inc.. The brothers wanted to make a sandwich that would stay crispy when cooked in a microwave. So, they created a special wrapper and a unique dough recipe.
In 1980, their company introduced its first stuffed sandwich called the Tastywich. This was the early version of what would become the Hot Pocket. In 1983, Hot Pockets took over from Tastywiches. They were first sold to restaurants because it was easier to get them into those places than into regular stores. On May 22, 2002, the company Chef America was sold to Nestlé. At that time, Hot Pockets were a very popular type of frozen sandwich and snack. Breakfast-style Hot Pockets were first sold in 2001.
What Kinds of Hot Pockets Are There?
There are many different kinds of Hot Pockets, about 50 varieties in total. You can find them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Nestlé also makes Hot Pockets with pretzel bread or a croissant crust. They even have smaller Hot Pockets called Breakfast/Snack Bites.
In the past, Nestlé also made other versions. These included Lean Pockets, Hot Pie Express, and Hot Pockets Pizza Minis. Many people see Hot Pockets as a quick and easy snack, especially after school. A single Hot Pocket usually has about 350 calories.
Hot Pocket Sales
In 2011, Nestlé announced that they would reduce the number of workers at their California factory. This was because sales of Hot Pockets were going down. In 2010, sales in the U.S. were about $610 million, which was less than the year before.
Paul Grimwood took charge of Nestlé's U.S. operations in 2011. He tried to make the brand stronger by improving how products were made and delivered. He decided to stop making the calzone version of Hot Pockets. He also stopped making the quesadilla Lean Pockets. This helped simplify the types of dough needed. A Nestlé executive, Chris Johnson, suggested that changes in how some families received financial help might have caused sales to drop. He said that people who received this help were a big part of who bought Hot Pockets.
Product Safety Recalls
Sometimes, food products need to be recalled to keep people safe. This means the company asks customers to return the product.
2014: Unsafe Meat Recall
In 2014, Nestlé USA recalled about 238,000 cases of Hot Pockets. This was because they might have contained meat from a company that had a very large recall. The meat was from animals that were not healthy. Nestlé said that only a small amount of this meat was used in Hot Pockets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the meat was "unfit for humans."
This meat recall came from a factory in California. However, the recalled Hot Pockets were sold all over the country. The two types of Hot Pockets involved were the Philly Steak and Cheese and the Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese. No one reported getting sick from these products. Customers who bought the recalled Hot Pockets could contact Nestlé to get their money back.
2020–2021: Glass and Plastic Pieces Recall
In January 2021, some Hot Pockets made between November 13 and 16, 2020, were found to have small pieces of glass or hard plastic inside. This could be dangerous, as it could cause choking or cuts. The USDA issued a Class I recall, which means it was a very serious recall. They warned that using the product could cause serious health problems or even death.
The affected products included Premium Pepperoni Made With Pork and Chicken & Beef Pizza with a Garlic Buttery Crust.
See also
In Spanish: Hot Pockets para niños
- Burrito
- Calzone
- List of frozen food brands
- Pasty
- Pizza Pops
- Pizza rolls
- Pocket sandwich
