Newtons, most prominently Fig Newtons, are a Nabisco trademarked version of the fig roll, a pastry filled with fig paste. They are produced by an extrusion process. Their distinctive shape is a characteristic that has been adopted by competitors, including generic fig bars sold in many markets.
Brand history
Until the late 19th century, many physicians believed that most illnesses were related to digestion problems, and recommended a daily intake of biscuits and fruit. Fig rolls were the ideal solution to this advice. They were a locally produced and handmade product until a Philadelphia baker and fig lover, Charles Roser, invented and then patented a machine in 1891 which inserted fig paste into a thick pastry dough. Cambridgeport, Massachusetts–based Kennedy Biscuit Company purchased the Roser recipe and started mass production. The first Fig Newtons were baked at the F. A. Kennedy Steam Bakery in 1891. The product was named after the city ofNewton, Massachusetts, and contrary to popular belief, has nothing to do with Sir Isaac Newton. The Kennedy Biscuit Company had recently become associated with the New York Biscuit Company, and the two merged to form Nabisco—after which, the fig rolls were trademarked as Fig Newtons. Since 2012, the "Fig" has been dropped from the product name.
Varieties
As of 2012, Nabisco makes several varieties of the Newton, which, in addition to the original fig filling, include versions filled with apple cinnamon, strawberry, raspberry, and mixed berry. The Fig Newton also is sold in a 100% whole-grain variety and a fat-free variety. Fig Newton Minis have also been introduced. The fig bar is the company's third best-selling product, with sales of more than 700 million bars a year as of 2018. In 2011, a crisp cookie was introduced in the United States named Newtons Fruit Thins, after being successfully marketed by Kraft in Canada as Lifestyle Selections, a variety of Peek Freans.
The snack is referred to by name in the film Crime School. In the scene "Spike", who is one of the Dead End Kids portrayed by Leo Gorcey, is accused of stealing Fig Newtons by the corner store clerk.
The snack is referred to by name in the 1961 film The Parent Trap. The scene involves the twin sisters, Susan and Sharon, who have been relegated to a cabin together at sleep-away camp. At one point, Susan offers Sharon a snack with the line, "Wanna Fig Newton?"
The snack is referred to by name in the 1963 filmHud. The scene where title character Hud is driving Alma home with groceries she asks him "Hey, wanna Fig Newton?"
In Season 3, Episode 10 of the Big Bang Theory "The Gorilla Experiment", which aired on December 7, 2009, Penny asks: "Is that why they're called Fig Newtons?", to which Sheldon replies: "No. Fig Newtons are named after a small town in Massachusetts."
In the comedy film , the eponymous NASCAR driver sells advertising space on his car to Fig Newtons, resulting in him driving with an obtrusive decal of the Fig Newtons logo on his windshield.
In Season 5, Episode 20 of M*A*S*H entitled "Hepatitis", Colonel Potter and Hawkeye are seen eating Fig Newtons while drinking Scotch.
In chapter 5 of Beverly Cleary's book, Beezus and Ramona, the girls' mother provides plates of Fig Newtons for some small children who are attending a party in the basement. Ramona grosses out the visitors by declaring, "Those cookies are filled with worms. Chopped-up worms!" And they all believe her.
A box of Fig Newtons can be seen, in cartoon form, in Mickey's Surprise Party a theatrical advertisement/cartoon short produced by Walt Disney Productions for Nabisco. The film ends with Minnie and Mickey enjoying a box of Fig Newtons, their favorite, and Minnie kissing Mickey all over his face before fading out to "The End" and then the Nabisco logo.
