Pop Rocks were invented in 1961, but first appeared on the market in 1974 in Canada, and in the US in 1976.

High pressure CO2 is infused into the candy as it cools. Then when it dissolves in the mouth, there’s a little popping sensation, a little like a carbonated beverage, but in a solid candy.

Unfortunately the product was plagued by untrue rumors about exploding stomachs. The company ran ads to combat the rumors, and the FDA even had a hotline to assure parents it wasn’t true. But once you have to start taking out ads to say your candy has never made anyone’s stomach explode, it’s hard to come back from that. The product never quite recovered from the FUD, was sold a few times, and is now owned by Zeta Espacial, out of Barcelona. You can still get it today, but it doesn’t enjoy the popularity of its heyday, when for a time it was out-selling all other candy products in the North American market.