Ep 26. Food Prizes

Unwrapped is a food show that explores how the most popular snacks and treats are made. In season 1, episode 26, viewers are treated to a tantalizing look at food prizes. From fast food chains to supermarkets, food prizes are ubiquitous. Handing out prizes in the form of food has been a marketing technique for nearly 100 years, and in this episode, Unwrapped dives into the world of food prizes and how they have evolved over time.

The episode begins at a drive-through where a man is surprised to receive a free order of fries. Unwrapped takes us back in time to explain how fast food chains started using food as a prize. The first fast food restaurant to use the tactic was the beloved California-based chain, In-N-Out Burger, which began giving out paper hats and soft drink coasters in the 1950s. Today, fast food chains give out everything from toys to collectibles. Viewers learn about the famous Happy Meal toys that McDonald's has been using to lure in young customers for decades.

Next, Unwrapped heads to the grocery store to look at cereal box prizes. Cereal box promotions began in the 1930s and have become increasingly complex. Kellogg's, for example, has offered everything from free movie tickets to virtual reality headsets. The episode then moves on to the world of snack foods, where food prizes have been a mainstay for decades. Host Marc Summers visits a plant that makes fun-size candy bars and shows how tricks and treats are made. Confectionery companies like Mars, Hershey's, and Nestle's all use food prizes as a way to boost candy sales.

The episode also explores the history of Cracker Jack, a caramel-coated popcorn treat that dates back to the late 19th century. Cracker Jack is famous for including a prize in every box, and viewers get to see how the company has kept the tradition alive in modern times. The show also looks at the evolution of the prize; originally, Cracker Jacks came with metal trinkets, but today the prizes include temporary tattoos and stickers.

Unwrapped then heads to Las Vegas to visit a slot machine museum where host Marc Summers discovers that food prizes have been used in casinos since the mid-20th century. Casino-goers used to receive coins as prizes, but today they receive everything from free drinks to buffets. The episode also looks at how casinos incentivize customers to gamble with free meals and bonus points.

The episode wraps up by looking at the history of food prizes in sports, beginning with the iconic Cracker Jack jingle from the early 20th century that is still remembered today. From there, Unwrapped moves on to the 1990s, a decade that saw the rise of sports marketing. Host Marc Summers visits a factory that makes bobblehead dolls to show how sports teams use them to encourage attendance at games.

Overall, Unwrapped season 1 episode 26 food prizes is an entertaining exploration of the history and evolution of food prizes. From fast food chains to cereal boxes to casinos and sports marketing, viewers get an inside look at how food prizes have played a major role in American culture for nearly a century.