Jimmy Dean (brand) facts for kids
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Jimmy Dean Foods is a well-known American brand that makes different kinds of meat products. They are especially famous for their breakfast items, like sausage. This brand is owned by a larger company called Tyson Foods.
The company was started in 1969 by a famous country singer and actor named Jimmy Dean. Over the years, the company changed hands a few times. It was bought by Sara Lee, then became part of a group called Hillshire Brands, and finally, Tyson Foods bought it.
Jimmy Dean's main products are breakfast foods made with chicken and pork sausage. The brand is popular because its meals are quick and easy to cook, often in a microwave. You can find Jimmy Dean products in many forms: raw, frozen, already cooked, or even wrapped individually.
Contents
The Story of Jimmy Dean Foods
How the Company Started
Jimmy Dean, the founder, first created his breakfast sausage brand, which he called "Pure Pork Sausage." His company became very successful. A big reason for this success was Jimmy Dean himself! He made funny and friendly commercials for his products, which people loved.
In 1980, the first Jimmy Dean Restaurant opened in Columbus, Ohio. Another one opened the next year. By 1983, three more restaurants had opened in different cities like Oklahoma City and Indianapolis.
Changing Owners and Spokesmen
In 1984, Jimmy Dean sold his company to the Sara Lee Corporation for $80 million. Even after selling it, he continued to be the company's spokesman, appearing in commercials. However, Sara Lee slowly started to take over the management duties from him.
The Jimmy Dean Restaurants closed in 1985. Another company, Bob Evans Restaurants, bought four of these locations. By 2002, Jimmy Dean was no longer the spokesman for the brand. After Jimmy Dean passed away in 2010, the company started new advertisements in 2018 that featured him again.
Plant-Based Options
New Meat-Free Choices
In January 2021, Jimmy Dean Foods added something new to its product line: a meatless item! This was a plant-based patty, egg white, and cheese croissant. It used plant-based ingredients instead of animal meat.
Later in 2021, the company added another meat alternative product. This was the Jimmy Dean Delights Plant-Based Patty & Frittata Sandwich. It uses grains and beans like quinoa, black beans, and soy to create a patty that tastes similar to meat. Even though it's plant-based, the sandwich still has the same special sausage seasoning that gives it the brand's traditional flavor.
Food Safety Recalls
When Products Are Recalled
Sometimes, food companies have to recall products if there's a safety concern. On December 12, 2018, Jimmy Dean announced a recall for over 28,000 pounds of sausage. This happened because some people complained about finding small pieces of metal in the sausages.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) helped with the recall. They did not report any injuries from people eating the sausages. A company called CTI Foods, which made the ready-to-eat sausage links, asked stores in 21 states to remove the products. They also advised people not to eat them if they had them at home.
See also
