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 snacks that you can heat up in the microwave. They are a type of turnover, which is like a small pastry pocket filled with ingredients like cheese, meat, or vegetables. The brand was started by a company called Chef America Inc. but has been owned by Nestlé since 2002.
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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. and wanted to create a sandwich that would stay crispy even after being cooked in a microwave.
To do this, they invented a special cardboard sleeve for the sandwich to sit in while it cooks. They also created a unique dough recipe. In 1980, they released their first stuffed sandwich, called the Tastywich. Three years later, in 1983, they improved their idea and launched Hot Pockets.
At first, Hot Pockets were only sold to restaurants. It was easier to get restaurants to try a new food than to get it into big grocery stores. The idea was a huge success, and in 2002, the brothers sold their company to Nestlé. By then, frozen snacks like Hot Pockets had become a 2-billion-dollar business.
What's Inside a Hot Pocket?
Hot Pockets are known for being a quick and easy snack, especially for students after school. A single Hot Pocket has about 350 calories.
There are many different kinds of Hot Pockets to choose from. The brand has offered over 50 flavors over the years, including options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Some of the types you can find include:
- Traditional Hot Pockets
- Pretzel Bread Hot Pockets
- Hot Pockets Croissant Crust
- Breakfast Hot Pockets
In the past, Nestlé also made other varieties like Lean Pockets, which had fewer calories, and even small calzones and paninis.
Keeping the Brand Popular
Around 2011, sales for Hot Pockets started to go down. To fix this, Nestlé made some changes. They decided to stop making some of the less popular types, like the calzone and quesadilla versions. This helped them focus on making the most popular flavors better.
Company leaders said that sales were also affected when government food assistance programs were reduced. They explained that many people who used these benefits bought Hot Pockets, so when the benefits changed, sales were impacted.
Product Safety Recalls
Sometimes, a company has to do a "recall," which means they ask stores to stop selling a product and ask customers to return it. This usually happens if there's a problem with the food that could make it unsafe to eat. Hot Pockets has had a couple of major recalls.
2014 Meat Recall
In 2014, Nestlé recalled thousands of cases of Hot Pockets. This was because a small amount of the meat used in them came from a supplier that did not meet safety standards. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said the meat was "unfit for humans."
The recall affected the Philly Steak and Cheese and the Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese flavors. The products were sold across the United States. Thankfully, no one reported getting sick from eating them. Nestlé offered a refund to anyone who had bought the recalled products.
2020–2021 Contamination Recall
In January 2021, another recall was issued for some Hot Pockets made in November 2020. The problem was that small pieces of glass or hard plastic were found in some of the products. This created a risk of choking or injury.
The USDA called this a Class I recall, which is the most serious type. It means that using the product could cause serious health problems. The recall included the Premium Pepperoni and the Chicken & Beef Pizza flavors.
See also
In Spanish: Hot Pockets para niños
- Burrito
- Calzone
- List of frozen food brands
- Pasty
- Pizza Pops
- Pizza rolls
- Pocket sandwich
