What is the history of fruit stripe gum?

If you are a fan of colorful chewing gum with a zebra mascot, you might be familiar with Fruit Stripe Gum. This gum has been around since the 1960s, and it is known for its striped appearance, its temporary tattoos, and its short-lived flavor.

Fruit Stripe Gum was invented by James Parker, who sold it to Beech-Nut in 1960. Beech-Nut was a popular gum company that also made Life Savers and Mentos. Fruit Stripe Gum originally had a different mascot: the Fruit Stripe Man, who was a pack of gum with a face and limbs. He rode a motorcycle and wore a police uniform.

Later, Fruit Stripe Gum introduced the Stripes Family Animals, which included a zebra, a tiger, an elephant, and a mouse. The zebra, named Yipes, became the most popular and the sole mascot of the brand. He was often shown playing sports or doing adventurous activities.

Fruit Stripe Gum had five flavors: Wet n’ Wild Melon, Cherry, Lemon, Orange, and Peach Smash. There was also a bubble gum version with different flavors, such as Cotton Candy and Grape. Fruit Stripe Gum was known for its very brief flavor, which lasted only a few seconds.

Some people liked this feature, while others found it disappointing. In 1996, Fruit Stripe Gum donated some of its profits to the World Wildlife Fund, to support the conservation of endangered animals and their habitats.

In 2003, Fruit Stripe Gum was acquired by Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company, which later merged with Ferrara Candy Company in 2012. Ferrara is also the maker of other candies such as Nerds and Lemonheads.

In 2024, Ferrara announced that it would discontinue Fruit Stripe Gum, citing consumer preferences and purchasing patterns. This was sad news for many loyal fans of the gum, who had grown up with it.

Fruit Stripe Gum was a colorful and fun candy that had a long history and a loyal fan base. It will be missed by many people who enjoyed its stripes, its tattoos, and its zebra mascot.