Odd Food Facts

1. Philadelphia Brand cream cheese was made in New York
Cream cheese was first made in 1872 in New York State by dairyman William A. Lawrence. Eight years later, it was packaged in foil wrappers and called Philadelphia Brand because the public associated the City of Brotherly Love with high-quality food products.

2. Gatorade does have something to do with "Gators"
In 1965, a coach for the Florida Gators college football team and one of the university's kidney specialists came up with a concoction of water, salt, sugar, and lemon juice to keep the school's football players hydrated and energized while playing football under the hot Southern sun. Two years later, Gatorade was marketed nationally and has since netted the University of Florida more than $90 million in revenues.

3. SPAM stands for something
In 1937, the Hormel Company developed the first canned meat product that did not require refrigeration, and marketed it as "Hormel Spiced Ham." The public's response was anticlimactic. To save the day, a decision was made to offer a prize to the person who could think up a catchy new name. The winning entry was "Spam". Several versions of the name's meaning are in circulation - the two most credible are: It's a blend of "spice" and "ham," and it stands for "Shoulder of Pork and Ham."

4. Frisbees were inspired by pies.
The Frisbie Pie Company in Connecticut sold pies. Local college students used the empty tins (embossed with the words "Frisbie's Pies") to play catch. In 1948, two inventors created a plastic version called the Flyin' Saucer and later renamed the Pluto Platter Flying Saucer. The founders of Wham-O bought rights to the toy and renamed it Frisbee.

5. Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup
What is a Chicken Noodle, anyway? "Chicken with Noodles" soup was a variety introduced to the public by Campbell's in 1934. Sales back then were slow - until the product's name was misread during an episode of a popular radio show. Once listeners heard the words "chicken noodle soup," consumer interest was captured. Folks began to call Campbell's to ask about this "new" soup. The company quickly dropped the "with" and the "s" and renamed the soup to match the mistake that raised its sales.