The Untold Truth Of Fig Newtons

A 100-inch anniversary dessert, secret snacks in the mayor's office, and a battle royale with another iconic cookie. The history of Fig Newton is filled with plenty of delicious and colorful tidbits.
#FigNewtons #PopularFood #Hatred
Newton namesake | 0:00
Extrusion origin story | 0:48
Figgy in Britain | 1:47
Figs have their day | 2:33
Bygone popularity | 3:36
Big Fig character | 4:42
A very figgy mayor | 5:42
100-year anniversary | 6:31
State cookie battle | 7:26
Dropping the "Fig" | 8:26
The fig roll challenge | 9:15
The Cookie vs. Cake Debate | 10:05
Read Full Article: www.mashed.com/1005894/the-un...

[@MashedFood]

What is your favorite fig snack?

[@Leonardokite]

I grew up on the originals, but the blueberry ones are awesome. 👅

[@Wa3ypx]

@@Leonardokite I like blueberry better than the strawberry jobs. Original best

[@alpineflauge909]

i alternated between varieties

[@Leonardokite]

@@alpineflauge909 what, ribbed and reservoir? hahahaha 🍆

[@tinklvsme]

I like the strawberry version 😋

[@denisefarmer366]

The cookies in 1975 commercial had twice as much fig filling as the current fig newtons. Once again, ripping off the public.

[@samanthab1923]

Everything is smaller. I saw Zingers the other day & they are half the size.

[@chipsammich2078]

@@samanthab1923 A snickers is now $2.50 and little bigger than the snack size

[@samanthab1923]

@@chipsammich2078 Is it really? I haven’t bought Halloween candy yet. It’s probably going to be $10 a bag! I hate to sound like an old fart but I saw a thing on the news with two groups, over 60 & under 40 sad when one older guy said his first house cost $33,000 & the younger guy said that’s the average price of a car! Thank goodness my son has rich grandparents 😂

[@chipsammich2078]

@@samanthab1923 It's probably more than $10/bag beautiful...

[@samanthab1923]

@@chipsammich2078 Jeez 🥹

[@karmacounselor]

My Grandpa Ole from NOrway (born in 1880) had a cookie drawer next to the fridge in his kitchen. It had Fig Newtons, Aunt Sallies, and coconut washboard cookies. For a youngster, it was a magic moment when we were told to go to the drawer and choose a cookie. Yum!

[@RyanS32]

My favorite snack! They are so delicious!

[@jazzcookmusic5677]

My father worked at the Nabisco plant in Detroit when he was in high school. His boss told him he could eat all he wants and he did. All these years later he despises Fig Newtons. 😄

[@jeffreyphillips4182]

I worked in a bakery as a teenager and couldn't eat donuts for 2 years after I left😁

[@samanthab1923]

Loved the old 70’s Fig Newton ads! The Big Fig Newton!

[@Wa3ypx]

Fig Newtons are how I met my wife, In kindergarten, we went on a field trip to the turkey farm and she shared fig newtons with me.

[@rolandjaudes3041]

Wow!!! Thank you for sharing a cute and happy memory.

[@Wa3ypx]

@@rolandjaudes3041 We didn't see each other again until after high school. Now we're married 40 yrs. She still kids me about "The Turkey Farm"

[@SarahRenz59]

My mom, bless her heart, used to buy Fig Newtons for me. She told me years later that I was the only one in the family who liked them! I never noticed at the time that nobody else was eating them. I still like them; they're one of those foods that probably aren't that good for you, but you can still convince yourself that they're healthier than other options.

[@stankygeorge]

In one way or another, no food you eat is 100% good for you! So, suck down them newtons boy and enjoy yourself, guilt free. I do! Love me some newtons!

[@orkneyrd]

Bingo! On how easy it is to delude yourself that they are healthful rather that less harmful at best. I love em!

[@edkeaton]

"I eat Fig Newtons by the sleeve!" - Brian Regan. 😋♥️

[@lucillegriffin9525]

Me too. That’s why I don’t buy them. I can’t eat what I don’t have.😂🎃

[@puppsmcgee74]

After eating two of them, you’re stuffed to the rafters!

[@marshmangunnar9150]

My favorite comedian

[@edkeaton]

@@marshmangunnar9150 Never heard of him. I'll have to check him out on KZbin.

[@miketeters2898]

Back in the early 80s I had a thing for fig newtons. Problem was I also had 3 kids who liked them as much as I did. One day we were all walking on the sidewalk in front of our house and I stepped on a big slug squishing out all it’s guts. I looked down and said look at all that newton! They inquired and I explained that’s what fig newtons were made from. For several days I had all the fig newtons to myself until they asked mom who didn’t have my back on this one. Sharing was always bitter sweet after that.

[@Knards]

I was born in 1950. I grew up eating Fig Newtons and thanks to you, I am now salivating for one

[@jordangraham3159]

I honestly really enjoy Fig Newtons but the only thing that kinda gets on my nerves about them is after you eat a few the figs get stuck in between your teeth and I hate that feeling. But even still I can't deny that they taste really good

[@MCTeck]

I agree 100%! Gritty but great taste better than candy .

[@mrkroeger]

Try just mushing them in your mouth...not really crunching down too hard, prevent from pushing the seeds in between sides of teeth

[@cletedavis5849]

Jordan, that is why toothpicks were invented!

[@florencemiller7826]

They are soft, fruity chewy deliciousness every single flavor I love them all ❤️

[@YoSpiff]

They are considered by many cyclists to be one of the best energy snacks that you can count on to be found at any convenience store. I prefer the version from Nature's Bakery. Winco Foods used to have a vanilla fig cookie that was wonderful.

[@portnor7493]

Amazing treat but they sadly keep getting smaller.

[@orkneyrd]

As we still get larger, eh?

[@GAT818]

@@orkneyrd sad but true 🤣👍

[@spanishpeaches2930]

We call them Fig Rolls , in the UK. I love them.

[@MCTeck]

Is it just me, have the Newton's been reduced in size ,like so many others products? I still love them!

[@CatherineRhoadsNC144]

Less product, increased price. Corporate greed on a universal scale. Shame!

[@stankygeorge]

It is not just you!

[@robertcostello4921]

They will tell you no you people just got fatter

[@lizday8140]

My great-grandparents had a fig tree in their back yard here in Texas, USA. If they didn't feel like making a snack for me between meals, Grandma would say, "Go pick ya a fig!" Of course, raw figs were not at all appetizing to me as a child. The taste was not too terrible, but the texture was completely unappealing. I did - and still do - love Fig Bars, Newtons, Biscuits...whatever name I find in the store. I also liked Fig preserves on toast or with hot buttered biscuits (scones), too.

[@rayjohnson9781]

Fig Newtons have high fructose corn syrup in them, nuff said. 🎃

[@idalily3810]

So what? Seriously, what is the paranoia about corn syrup?

[@ConceptsInHealth]

@@idalily3810 Corn syrup is actually a fairly good sweetener choice-lower glycemic index than table sugar. High fructose corn syrup- no. Big difference.

[@suebotchie4167]

i like them, but they don't like me - probably the insane amounts of sweeteners cause the heartburn.

[@brianmoody2549]

Fig Newton’s have’s a great tastes that you will never forget

[@pattifisk1829]

Best Fig Newton advertisement ever. Nice to learn the history. Never saw the tv ad with the home alone actor. Only the original Newton brand is good, other brands try to mimmick, but always a disappointment or too 'cakey'. Love figs and fig trees. Eating too many fresh ones is easy, but must limit intake. Enjoyed, thanks.

[@gertie2454]

I used to work in a large food manufacturing plant that made cookies & crackers, (some 'contracted like Mini Chips Ahoy, some types of girl scout cookies, animal crackers, etc.), they also had their own brands. One of the products they made was a barley fig bar. I loved fig newtons until I saw how they were made. Almost everything went into the fig jam, leftover cookies & crackers were ground up & added to the jam, even the diet crackers we made for a Canadian company (some were the vegetable variety). Sometimes it was slightly on the bad side but they would mix it up with fresher jam so they didn't waste anything.

[@gaylefynaut562]

Well, that’s so disappointing

[@MsBizzyGurl]

Whaaat?!

[@gertie2454]

@@MsBizzyGurl ?

[@MsBizzyGurl]

@@gertie2454 shocked that fig filling is made from 'leftovers'

[@gertie2454]

@@MsBizzyGurl Companies do not waste anything.

[@ginj5375]

Always wondered what happened to the flat raisin biscuit, very thin and less sweet.

[@virginiaconnor8350]

I used to buy a cookie that was basically a flat raisin cookie. They were excellent, but I can't find them anymore.

[@ginj5375]

@@virginiaconnor8350 Found it at Vermont Country Store,$39.60 for 2 bags.

[@robsampson9623]

I think they were called sultana biscuits. I remember my great grandmother always had a package of them when we went to visit her.

[@eileenkolesar2644]

Yes!!! I loved that raisin biscuit...I did see it on line...not in stores anymore...those are my so good...not too sweet either

[@eileenkolesar2644]

@@ginj5375 yes!!

[@robocat893]

I despise figs but I love Fig Newtons. Go figure.

[@roberth3094]

Growing up as a kid I loved eating these with ice-cold milk.

[@pretty_kitty]

Grew up on Figs and dates. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM My mum would always make for Xmas. Best time of the year was eating these out of the oven on Xmas day. YUM YUM.

[@tessiree]

My uncle worked at Nabisco when he came home from WWII. Of course, smoking on the line was not allowed, so a lot of the guys would chew tobacco for their nicotine fix. He always said, "Stay away from the Fig Newtons...."

[@orkneyrd]

I'd kinda like to unremember that. ;-)

[@Mordecai9052]

​Thomas Kiefaber if it helps, they're probably all retired now.

[@donaldyoumans275]

I love fig newtins!!for over 65 yrs..one of my favorite cookie..cakes

[@patriciaribaric3409]

Glad I had some in the house. You made me want some.

[@carolleenkelmann4751]

I've been looking for this recipe for years. We always bought these bisquits and I always used to call them fig pillows. They are one of my favourite. Haven't had any for years. Now, it is going to be different. I'm going to put dates with the figs and dunk the baked ones in fresh, creamy milk.

[@lilyalexi3905]

😋My Favorite cookies 😋

[@James-ou4pc]

Any time I see the phrase " The untold truth" on line, I turn away as fast as I can run. Thanks for letting me share with the group......

[@silverbullet7434]

They use to be moist n chewy but now they're dry and the cookie edge is very hard compared to years ago. Lance made a fig cake that was really super but haven't seen those years now. So there's no good chewy fig cookie anymore.

[@orkneyrd]

No problemo, just move to a metropolitan area where they look at things like freshness dates. ;-)

[@DavidEvans_dle]

Making a Fig Newton Birthday Ice Cream cake would be my dream birthday cake!!

[@enforcerlucario932]

My grandpa use to love Fig Newtons and my dad also loves it from time to time for me I do like it it’s tasty

[@meripederson8379]

I don't remember the commercials but I love them and introduced them to my children who love them too.

[@doreenfogarty2664]

I'm from Whitman Massachusetts it's a great little town. The sign still stands out there on the main road.

[@kh0034]

Love the taste of Fig Newtons but wish they could be made seedless! Crunching into some of those seeds make me cringe😖

[@robertnagy1902]

That’s how I feel about raspberry yogurt.

[@kh0034]

@@robertnagy1902 wish I could strain out the seeds, can't even separate them in my mouth to spit them out😅

[@douglasbair5647]

I also will sit to watch a good movie and great cookie, the FIG Newton. Yummm!

[@All_Loves_Lost]

LoL I looked this up as I opened a package of fig newtons and I’ve been eating them this whole time-! I love these figgy cake cookies 😂😂

[@davidarundel6187]

Used to have these loose in a barrel , in a health foods, plus medicinal herbs shop . They were quite popular . It's not so easy to find them or anything like them where I live - not USA .

[@e.r.470]

I love fig newtons 😋 I just recently bought a sh*t load of them this last week for $.79 and $.99 a pkg and some for $1.99 a pkg & they were the larger fig newtons especially the raspberry flavor fig newtons, the strawberry flavored ones but my overall favorite ones are the original fig newtons then the raspberry flavored ones. My dad use to buy the original fig newtons every week back in the 70's and 80's that was the only ones they had back in those days, well @ least I never saw any other fig newtons or ever heard of any other flavors of fig newtons back then, he was very strict about us kids staying out of them or we would get our a**es handed to us! Lol. The majority of fig newtons I see today are much smaller except for some of the fruit flavored one which are so much larger but not necessarily thicker though but they are absolutely delicious 😋😇😊❤️💝💖👍 I enjoy dunking them into my milk, or coffee! 🥛☕

[@marilynnjefferson8525]

Really yummy! Note to narrator: one moves further back in time, not farther. However, I prefer to move closer to Fig Newtons, nor farther from them. 🤗

[@thallus23]

I ❤ fig newtons!

[@allenweston2275]

I remember strawberry fig nutons, apple, cherry, etc... they were good, and only a dollar for a rack of them

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

I always loved Fig Newtons but they just got to damn sweet. Like so many US cookies they are now more candy than pastry. Sad. Interesting video.

[@dorothy7743]

I so agree! How can you taste anything past the oversweet high fructose corn syrup?

[@sulee7306]

I store and eat them from the freezer. Extra chewy.

[@joeguerra461]

Broke up fig newtons in real vanilla bean churned ice cream.!! WOW!! JG in KY.

[@charlie6629]

90's kids, I was a 60's kid and later as an adult with 3 children had a fig tree in on my acre. I'd pull them off the tree and pop them open.The kids tried and like them although they were like their mother. I could catch a bass yet she wouldn't eat it yet she could go to the market and buy on end eat it. There were so many the chickens would eat them. They loved their acre along with a couple geese and a few ducks.

[@johnfelle4401]

Once they started to be produced in Mexico the quality went down I kept biting on hard things in the cookie that never happened before

[@mellissadalby1402]

I might be strange, but I prefer a Fig Newton over a Chocolate Chip Cookie any time any day.

[@Darknamja]

The Big Fig always brought a smile to my face.😊

[@janiesippel225]

Now I want some fig newtons 🤤

[@SantiagoGarcia-mz4hh]

I love these

[@waltergolston6187]

Fig Newton with a cold glass of milk " Your darn tooton I like Fig Newton !"

[@cathypeterson4527]

They are very good ❤

[@americanpatriot2422]

I love Fig Newtons!

[@cynthiasmith398]

My grandfather and I would watch TV and eat Fig Newtons!

[@s.b.7924]

Now I want some! But don't want to drive to the store. Would someone please get me some??😂😂

[@lisamoag6548]

1970's commercial " The big fig newton! Here's the tricky part! a fig dancing fun commercials back then " is it a cake or a cooky?

[@karenhudson8862]

I used to have a poster of the big fig. Wish it hadn’t been lost.

[@gaylefynaut562]

I am the only one in my family that loves fig newtons. This is making me hungry.

[@mattlien5844]

I do like fig newtons but ever since I saw a PBS documentary on figs a few years ago I can't not think about figs. Apparently a ripe fig is about half dead insects. Several different insects make figs their home and are necessary for the fig to mature.

[@davidfromamerica1871]

Fig Newton’s and pitted Fruit Figs.❤️ Figs are better than any candy.❤️ Unfortunately not every grower grows great tasting figs.

[@marielucier7982]

I eat dried figs straight out of the bag. I used to eat the cookies a lot. Still like them. They are good when you are young and broke and need something for an all day out like at a cultural festival as I used to do.

[@s.b.7924]

Still love them.

[@MrDan708]

Cookies or cakes? More like pies!

[@thegooddoctor7898]

👍

[@satguy]

I just picked up a box of these, can they get any smaller? They are at least a third the size they were when I was a kid. Last time I'm going to buy them.

[@musiclover148]

I love me some fig bar cookies, but they don't have to be Fig Newtons. Some other kinds, including store brands, are just as good and will save you a wad of money. I like the other kinds of fruit fillings, too.

[@anthonyyeznach847]

Wow. Eleven plus minnits and not a single mention of the most well known ad slogan.... Yer darn tootin', I like Fig Newtons.

[@roberthigbee3260]

Ooey, gooey, rich and chewy inside, Golden flaky, tender caky outside. Wrap the inside in the outside, is it good? Darn tooten! Doing the big fig newton, here's the tricky part - the big fig newton. One more time! The big fig newtaaaaahn!!

[@robertcostello4921]

You must of spent a lot of time in front of the tv set me to.if we were given truth serum from the e enemy all they will get is commercials for food toys and cartoons.

[@sherirobinson6867]

I've never heard about blueberry Newtons. I'm going to find some blueberry Newtons. I eat fig newtons by the sleeve a couple times a month, although it's a knockoff brand. But I'll pay the price for some blueberry Newtons just to try them

[@rolandjaudes3041]

They also made strawberry ones in the past. Dont know if they are still in stores.

[@rolandjaudes3041]

Who wouldn't want to make your own fig Newton cookies? You would have to be a genius to complete that.

[@marvinacklin792]

I can eat a whole box in one sitting…do it regularly…can’t resist

[@flame1603]

It’s too bad the second ingredient in fig newtons is high fructose corn syrup, followed by a Franken-blend of highly processed oils like soybean and cottonseed, and yummy artificial flavors at the end. I’d be curious to learn what they were made out of in the 50s. Probably real food.

[@Acejustforalaugh]

They are good 👍. Everything in moderation. Peace.

[@antoniobroccoliporto4774]

Sicilians have been making a cookie similar to Fig Newtons for a Thousand years…of course they learned this from the Moors that invaded S. Italy during the Middle Ages.

[@charlespipitone2324]

My father grew up with fig trees in the back yard. My great grandmother would make here variation of this. Upon getting married, he worked at NABISCO. His story went, He would bring a gallon of milk to work, eat the fig newton's from the cooling belt. After a couple months, he must have engorged himself. Could NOT look at another fig/fig newton after that. My mother had to hide our fig newton's so my father would not see them. LoL.

[@marinara5445]

😮

[@guygi2011]

Fig Newtons are delicious!

[@judychambers919]

Must be my age. Don't mess with this awesome cookie. I love chocolate but have a special place in my heart for FIG Newtons. The figs make this cookie. The fake fruit jams cannot compare.

[@dianalee8967]

I'm 88 years old and I eat fig newtons everyday and they must be healthy for me cuz the doctor said I'm doing great I think they're good for the stomach and I'm getting my fruit also Plus added food I also eat bananas and mixed fruit my veggies Fish & Chicken Fig Newtons are good early consumption of any pill you must take in the morning to help the pills go down with some water

[@TenniellesChannel]

Great advice, thanks 😊

[@orkneyrd]

The Dollar General brand is pretty good for less cost.

[@Michaela1942]

It wasn't mentioned that Fig Newton's are so well known that the Paul Newman Company came out with their own version about 20-30 years ago called (what else) the Fig Newman. Personally, I like Fig Newman's better as I feel they taste better.

[@dandoyle9881]

You forgot to mention the fig leaf in the Garden of Eden in any erudite treatise.

[@sisenor4091]

My wife likes fig newtons but she prefers chocolate chip cookies 🍪. I’m a die hard fig newton lover. I don’t think this relationship can be repaired after 31 years.

[@cilldublin07]

but does anyone know how jacobs get the fig into the fig roll???

[@rickmaggie1]

We all enjoy the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile so I think it's time for Figger Mobile, what do you guys think? If you don't like that name how about the Isaac Newton Mobile Fig Transporter Machine?

[@johnfessenden3771]

I love fig newtons

[@garlicbreathandfarts]

We have had 'fig newtons' in Albania way before The USA.

[@speerrituall1]

The Fig Newton song is an ear worm.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

I prefer date newtons , keeps me regular . Low fat but very high sugar that turns to fat in your body . Why not Chocolate Newtons ? 😂

[@jeanneratterman]

There were some truly yummy Gluten Free fig newtons which I enjoyed (i have allergy to wheat, barley, rye, sadly) and now it is no where to be found as covid affected the economy as well as our health. A few great food products have completely disappeared from the shelves where i shop. So. Rats!

[@propman3523]

Beware of the Nabisco fruit newtons. They appear to be the same size as figs, but check the once weight and the price. Buy generic when and where you can for the same value.

[@MrYfrank14]

0:23 - "we 1 come to Newton". The sign maker couldn't make an "L"?

[@bennieguthrie2971]

Yea real short on fruit fillings

[@grampy2004]

Good info here ; ) Why have that annoying music in the background very distracting ; (

[@dsantamaria713]

Ya darn tootin, I love Fig Newton!

[@anoyint]

what abt the wasps?

[@thomfiel]

Most young people today are not familiar with Fig Newtons, let alone actual figs. They don't know what they're missing.