Swedish Fish facts for kids
A pack of Swedish Fish
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| Type | Confectionery |
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| Introduced | 1957 |
Swedish Fish are yummy, chewy candies shaped like fish. A Swedish company called Malaco first made them in 1957 for people in the United States. You can find them in many different colors and flavors!
Contents
What Are Swedish Fish Made Of?
Swedish Fish are made from several ingredients that give them their special taste and chewy texture. They are also gluten-free, which means people who can't eat gluten can enjoy them.
Key Ingredients Explained
- Sugar: This makes the candy sweet.
- Invert Sugar: This is a mix of two other sugars, glucose and fructose. It helps the candy stay soft and moist.
- Corn Syrup: Another type of sugar that adds sweetness and chewiness.
- Modified Corn Starch: This ingredient is super important! It helps the candy keep its fish shape. When the candies are made, they are pressed into molds filled with this starch.
- White Mineral Oil: A tiny bit of this oil is used in the molds. It helps the candy not stick and gives it a shiny look.
- Carnauba Wax: This wax is used as a coating. It gives the candy a slightly waxy feel and helps it stay fresh.
- Citric Acid: This adds a little tartness and helps the candy last longer on the shelf.
- Flavors and Colors: Natural and artificial flavors give Swedish Fish their unique taste. Different food dyes are used to make them red, yellow, green, or blue.
Swedish Fish in Sweden
In Sweden, many candies are sold as "pick and mix." This means you can choose different kinds of candies and put them in a bag. Fish-shaped candies are just one of many types of Wine gums sold there.
The Swedish Fish candy is known as "pastellfiskar" in Sweden, which means "pastel fish." They are sold under the Malaco brand. These fish candies are also part of a popular mixed candy bag called "Gott & Blandat." This name means "tasty and mixed" in English. This candy mix has been around since 1979.
The recipe for Swedish Fish in Sweden is different from the one used in North America. For example, white mineral oil is not allowed in Europe. Also, some food dyes used in the U.S. are not approved for use in the European Union in the same amounts. The Swedish version uses ingredients like glucose syrup, sugar, starch, and vegetable oils.
Swedish Fish in North America
Today, most Swedish Fish eaten in North America are made in Canada or Turkey. The company Mondelēz International distributes them. In Canada, they are sold under the Maynards Bassetts brand.
The fish-shaped candy became very popular in the U.S. without much advertising for a long time. In recent years, they have become even more popular. You can now easily find them in plastic bags at supermarkets and convenience stores.
To celebrate their popularity, the company made "Giant Fish" TV ads. They also created a YouTube mini-series called "Treadin' Water." This series follows the fun adventures of four friends and a Giant Swedish Fish living together. The first episodes came out in May 2016.
Flavors and Sizes
Originally, Swedish Fish were only red and had a special flavor. Now, you can find them in other colors and flavors, like orange and lemon-lime. Purple, grape-flavored Swedish Fish were stopped in 2006.
The candies come in two sizes. At first, only the small fish were red. Now, both sizes are available in all flavors. On the TV show Unwrapped, it was shared that the green fish are actually pineapple flavor, not lime. The yellow fish are a lemon-lime flavor.
You can also buy "Swedish Fish Tails 2 Flavors." These candies have two flavors in one fish! Some flavor combinations include blue raspberry strawberry, watermelon pineapple, and raspberry mango. This new version also brings new colors to the candy.
It is against the law to bring the North American version of Swedish Fish into Europe. This is because the ingredients do not meet European safety rules.
History of Swedish Fish
Swedish Fish first came to the U.S. market in 1957. The original company that owned them was Malaco from Sweden. Malaco wanted to sell their candies in North America. They partnered with Cadbury to do this.
Malaco wanted to create a candy that showed something about Swedish culture. Fishing was, and still is, a big part of life in Sweden. Fish are also an important food in Sweden. So, Malaco chose the fish shape for their new gummy candy. This helped the candy stand out and interested American buyers.
Today, Mondelēz International distributes the candy in the U.S. However, Malaco still distributes the fish gummies in Sweden.
Special Partnerships
Over the years, Swedish Fish has teamed up with other brands:
- In 2009, Rita's Italian Ice, a U.S. dessert chain, offered a red Swedish Fish flavored Italian ice.
- Trident, a gum company, made a Swedish Fish flavored gum. It was advertised as "Berry + Lemon" flavor.
- In 2016, Nabisco tested a new product: Swedish Fish Oreos. These were sold in Kroger grocery stores in the U.S.
- As of 2023, Trader Joe's sells its own version of these candies called "Scandinavian Swimmers."
- Ghost energy drink also had a partnership with Swedish Fish.
Images for kids
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A pack of Swedish Fish
