Crisco

Crisco, a popular brand of shortening, was first produced in 1911 by Procter & Gamble, and was the first shortening to be made entirely of vegetable oil.

Related Topics:
Shortening - 1911 - Procter & Gamble - Vegetable oil

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When William Procter and James Gamble started the company Procter & Gamble, they hired chemist E.C. Kayser and developed the process to hydrogenate cottonseed oil, which ensures the shortening remains solid at normal storage temperatures. The initial purpose was to make a cheaper substance to make candles than the expensive animal fats in use at the time. Electricity began to diminish the candle market, and since the product looked like lard, they began selling it as a food. This product became known as Crisco. Further success came from the marketing technique of giving away free cookbooks with every recipe calling for Crisco. Crisco vegetable oil was introduced in 1960.

Related Topics:
Hydrogenate - 1960

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Procter & Gamble divested the Crisco (oil and shortening) brand (along with Jif peanut butter) in a spinoff to their stockholders, followed by an immediate merger with The J. M. Smucker Co. in 2002.

Related Topics:
Spinoff - Merger - The J. M. Smucker Co.

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