Inventor of Pop Rocks dies
Mitchell worked as a chemist for General Foods for 35 years until his retirement in 1976. He held over 70 patents, including inventions related to Cool Whip, Jell-O Gelatin and the drink mix Tang. But Mitchell's most famous invention was Pop Rocks -- the exploding candy that became a big hit as soon as it was marketed in 1975. He made the discovery accidentally, while trying to design an instant soft drink. He developed Pop Rocks by putting sugar flavoring mixed with carbon dioxide in his mouth.
