1Young Walnuts, 1840
Heritage Images//Getty ImagesBecause "old walnuts" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
2Lloyd Manufacturing, Circa 1885
Historical//Getty ImagesSure, 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?!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, 1887
Getty ImagesSo, 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.
4Heckers, 1889
Buyenlarge//Getty ImagesKeeping with the terrifying babies theme, Heckers' Buckwheat Baby is eating pancakes...that are steaming hot...with a FORK AND KNIFE.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5Mott Robertson, Circa 1900s
David Pollack//Getty ImagesCould 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.
6H.P. Sauce, Circa 1900s
Chris Hellier//Getty ImagesNot sure why the boy looks so scared—it's the pig that should be worried with the catchphrase, "Good with bacon."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7Heinz, 1901
Science & Society Picture Library//Getty ImagesIs that a girl dressed as...a pickle? Holding a can of tomato soup? I'm just so confused.
8Candy Company, 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.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9Fleischmann's, 1915
Chris Hellier//Getty ImagesLike 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.
10Spa Citron, Circa 1920s
Getty ImagesBetween 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.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11Oreo, 1924
Mario Tama//Getty ImagesSorry, 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.
12Beech-Nut, 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.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13Pure Gold, 1930
Transcendental Graphics//Getty ImagesOzzie Orange—cute or terrifying? This mascot looks more prepared to brawl in a saloon than to sell produce.
14Pabst, 1937
Culture Club//Getty ImagesNot going to lie, a bunch of people in a bar cheering "Pabst! Pabst! Pabst!" seems pretty funny. Maybe this ad was on to something...
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15Budweiser, 1940
GettyI 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.
16Jaffa, Circa 1940s
Found Image Holdings Inc//Getty ImagesSupernatural food ads were apparently a thing in the '40s? The Jaffa genie grants the power of vitamins to all who buy its oranges. Okay!
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17Layer-Pak, 1948
Apic//Getty ImagesIs 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.
18Del Monte, 1948
Apic//Getty ImagesIf 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.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19Crisco, 1949
Apic//Getty ImagesWhile 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.
20Bananas, circa 1950s
Found Image Holdings Inc//Getty ImagesNo 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."
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below