The iconic Bomb Pop began in Kansas City, inspired by the Cold War

National Bomb Pop Day is celebrated every year on the last Thursday of June. In 2024, this day falls on June 27th.

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Most people have heard of Bomb Pop, or probably even enjoyed one themselves, but fewer know that the legendary Independence Day treat originated right here in Kansas City.

National Bomb Pop Day is celebrated on the last Thursday in June each year. In 2024, that day falls on June 27. In honor of the iconic summer treat, which turns 69 this year, here’s a little history on Bomb Pop.

On July 30, 1955, DS “Doc” Abernathy and James S. Merritt created the stacked popsicle for Merritt Foods in Kansas City, Missouri. The Bomb Pop’s original three flavors were cherry, lime and blue raspberry.

While the iconic popsicle may bring to mind classic American culture, a way to cool off on a long summer day, the sound of an ice cream truck on the street, or Independence Day, the Bomb Pop is linked to another, less pleasant part of American culture and history – the Cold War.

After Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953, the 1950s were certainly not the worst period of feuding between the United States and the Soviet Union. However, the Warsaw Pact had been signed only months before the bomb was created, and U.S. troops had been withdrawn from Korea less than a year earlier.

However, it’s safe to assume that the frozen treat, shaped like a rocket and colored red, white, and blue, was probably somewhat inspired by the events taking place in the world at the time of its creation.

It’s only fitting that the Bomb Pop’s popularity sparked a war of its own. In 1989, Popsicle released its own treat modeled after the Bomb Pop, called the Firecracker Pop. The Firecracker Pop had a similar design and color scheme to the Bomb Pop.

In 2014, Unilever, the seller of Firecracker Pop, filed a complaint against Wells, the seller of Bomb Pop. The plaintiff claimed that Bomb Pop’s packaging was confusingly similar to that of Firecracker Pop.

Less than a month later, Wells filed a countersuit for deceptive advertising, trademark infringement and related government claims. Wells said Unilever was guilty of deceptive advertising by claiming on the packaging that Firecracker Pop was “the original.”

The court ultimately ruled in favor of Wells, even after Unilever claimed that “The Original” simply meant that it was not another variant of the treat, such as a diet or unsalted version.