Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles food tie-ins
During the height of their popularity ('88-'91) the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) had a vast number of food tie-ins ranging from inevitable to obscure, many of which have become very rare, with some fans looking for the food packages to many of these items.
- Ninja Turtles Cereal: Easily described as lightly sweetened Rice Chex (described in advertising as "ninja nets") with TMNT themed marshmallows. The cereal had many gimmicks and contests, such as one to win a complete collection of TMNT action figures, as well as free premiums inside the box like mini-comics, a pouch of "green ooze" syrup topping, and even the famous "Turtle Bowls", cereal bowls in the shape of a Ninja Turtle.
- While the "ninja net" cereal wasn't available in most of Canada, there was another TMNT themed cereal. The cereal was in the shape of the Turtles' heads, and tasted like a less-sweet version of Froot Loops.
- Chef Boyardee TMNT Pasta: Pasta pieces in the shape of the Turtles (in different poses to represent each individual Turtle), canned in tomato sauce; a Shredder piece was later added to the pasta and the character added to the package art. Chef Boyardee also made "Ninja Turtles Cheese Pasta Dinner", the same pasta shapes were used.
- Ninja Turtles Cookies: The Delicious company made a huge production of Cookies in the shape of the Turtles and later their allies and enemies. Flavors included Natural Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Graham, and Apple Cinnamon Graham.
- Another version of the cookies was released called TMNT Sandwich Cremes. It consisted of vanilla or chocolate cookies sandwiched together like an Oreo. The cookies were shaped like the turtles.
- TMNT Cracks: Basically goldfish crackers shaped like the various ninja turtle characters, including Shredder. Came in Pizza or Cheese flavor.
- Fruit Snacks: "Farley's" made these in the shape of ninja turtles and villains. Assorted flavors.
- McCain TMNT Frozen Pizza: Frozen Pizza featuring the ninja turtles on the box. Also released was Pizza Mini Slices which had the odd topping of apple with a green colored crust.
- Hostess Ninja Turtles Pudding Pies: One of the rarest TMNT food products was made by Hostess in 1990; they were the "Hostess Pudding Pie" with a green sugar crust, and "Vanilla Puddin' Power" inside. The first run included a sticker of one of the turtles or a group shot, then in '91 with the release of the second film, the pies included a "TMNT 2 trading card". Alternatively, a version was released with regular crust and green-dyed "Ooze" filling.
- Royal OOZE Gelatin Desserts: Distributed by Nabisco under "Royal Gelatin". Three flavors were made, orange, strawberry, and lime. Each box had a live action Turtle from the second movie on the box.
- Ninja Turtle Ice Bars: Sugar ice Popsicles in the shape of the ninja turtles heads, with bubblegum eyes. They were green with headband flavors, being that they are blueberry for Leonardo, orange for Michelangelo, grape for Donatello, and cherry for Raphael. The bars have been re-released to tie in with the new series with no change in appearance.
- Ninja Turtle Juice: These were just like normal boxes of juice (like Hi-C) but they had artwork of the different turtles based on what flavor you had. There was Leonardo's Citrus Cooler, Raphael's Primo Punch, Michelangelo's Outrageous Orange, and Donatello's Rad Grape.
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