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42 Vintage Food Ads That We Can't Believe Are Real

Heinz's "Sandwich Spread" was...an interesting concoction.

Headshot of Janaya WeckerBy Janaya Wecker
heinz sandwich spread
Picture Post//Getty Images

If you think you've seen it all when it comes to food advertisements, think again. Over the years, there have been drastic changes in the ways brands sell their products. Back in the day—way before social media #sponcon—ads had to grab your attention in a sentence or less and usually just one photo. This resulted in some truly baffling results. Prepare yourself, because some of these vintage promotions are actually wild—I'm talking scary babies, fortune tellers, and clowns (yes, clowns). Best of luck to you!

1

Young Walnuts, 1840

young walnuts ad
Heritage Images//Getty Images

Because "old walnuts" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

2

Lloyd Manufacturing, Circa 1885

cocaine toothache drops advertisement
Historical//Getty Images

Sure, this might be more of a medicine than a sweet, but it's too shocking not to include. For just 15 cents, you could waltz over to your local "druggist" and buy candy laced with cocaine. Um, excuse me?!

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3

Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, 1887

trading card advertisement for gail borden eagle brand condensed milk
Getty Images

So, why are the babies' eyes so big? And how does one of them know how to use a teacup? And how are they drinking milk using spoons? So. Many. Questions.

4

Heckers, 1889

ad for heckers' buckwheat
Buyenlarge//Getty Images

Keeping with the terrifying babies theme, Heckers' Buckwheat Baby is eating pancakes...that are steaming hot...with a FORK AND KNIFE.

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5

Mott Robertson, Circa 1900s

mott robertson's ice cream poster
David Pollack//Getty Images

Could there be a more straightforward ad? Simple and to the point, Mott Robertson's Ice Cream wanted the people to know just one thing: It's good.

6

H.P. Sauce, Circa 1900s

vintage advert for hp sauce
Chris Hellier//Getty Images

Not sure why the boy looks so scared—it's the pig that should be worried with the catchphrase, "Good with bacon."

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7

Heinz, 1901

a heinz tomato soup advertisement
Science & Society Picture Library//Getty Images

Is that a girl dressed as...a pickle? Holding a can of tomato soup? I'm just so confused.

8

Candy Company, 1907

we aim at perfection and always hit the mark, 1907
Print Collector//Getty Images

"We aim at perfection and always hit the mark." You know what's not perfect? Forgetting to put your actual company's name on the ad—but I like the confidence.

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9

Fleischmann's, 1915

eat more bread vintage advert usa 1915
Chris Hellier//Getty Images

Like the Pillsbury Doughboy, just a tad less cute. There's actually a reason behind the "Eat Bread. More Bread" messaging: During World War I, the United States and the UK encouraged their citizens to trade in white bread for alternatives, like whole wheat, to better ration supplies.

10

Spa Citron, Circa 1920s

spa citron poster by francois geo
Getty Images

Between the woman's quirky dress and the product's French name, this could be an ad from Emily in Paris. It's not though. It's an ad for a mineral water from Spa, Belgium, and the original poster now sells for more than $3,000.

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11

Oreo, 1924

oreo celebrates 90th birthday
Mario Tama//Getty Images

Sorry, Oreo biters. This ad just might confirm that twisting your cookie open is the right way to eat it. Also, can we talk about the lemon filling? It's either gross or genius.

12

Beech-Nut, 1925

advertisement for beech nut peanut butter, october 1925
Apic//Getty Images

"When nature paints in rich October browns" sounds like a Taylor Swift lyric, but it was used to market peanut butter in 1925. In fact, the very lengthy ad reads more like a poem about fall than anything else.

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13

Pure Gold, 1930

pure gold orange head
Transcendental Graphics//Getty Images

Ozzie Orange—cute or terrifying? This mascot looks more prepared to brawl in a saloon than to sell produce.

14

Pabst, 1937

'pabst blue ribbon beer'
Culture Club//Getty Images

Not going to lie, a bunch of people in a bar cheering "Pabst! Pabst! Pabst!" seems pretty funny. Maybe this ad was on to something...

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15

Budweiser, 1940

budweiser
Getty

I can see a cold one in your future! Stare at this fortune-telling bartender long enough, and you just might be convinced to buy some bottles of Budweiser.

16

Jaffa, Circa 1940s

jaffa orange crate label
Found Image Holdings Inc//Getty Images

Supernatural food ads were apparently a thing in the '40s? The Jaffa genie grants the power of vitamins to all who buy its oranges. Okay!

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17

Layer-Pak, 1948

american advert for the "layer pak vegetables" tin of vegetables by the brand larsen , published in 1948
Apic//Getty Images

Is it wrong that I wish this still existed today? Layer-Pak made it easier to customize salads. Want carrots, but not a fan of celery? Prefer extra green beans, but not peas? You got it.

18

Del Monte, 1948

advert for del monte canned fruits , published in american magazine
Apic//Getty Images

If you're more of a fruit person, Del Monte's fruit cocktail was for you. Five fruits in one can + one confusing recipe + a whole lot of gelatin = deliciousness.

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19

Crisco, 1949

advert for crisco cooking oil, published in american magazine, in 1949
Apic//Getty Images

While Crisco boasts about being "digestible" and easy on the stomach in this ad, this was during a time where the brand used A LOT of trans fat as a major ingredient—one which was deemed unsafe in 2015, and was officially banned by the FDA in 2018.

20

Bananas, circa 1950s

serve bananas in latest style ad
Found Image Holdings Inc//Getty Images

No specific brand here...just plain old bananas. In the '50s, the Gros Michel variety (which looked completely different from the bananas we eat today) went extinct due to the Panama disease fungus. When it was replaced by the modern Cavendish variety, it took some time for people to get used to—hence this ad about the fruit's "latest style."

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