Oxo (food)
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Oxo is a brand of stock cube manufactured by Campbell Soup UK in England. Until May 2001, it was owned by Van den Bergh Foods Ltd, part of Unilever Bestfoods Ltd, when the Batchelors soup brand (based in Ashford, Kent) was also sold to Campbells to allow Unilever to buy Bestfoods. The best known flavour is the original beef cube, but now, in addition to beef, Oxo produces chicken and ethnic flavoured cubes, e.g. Chinese Recipe and Indian Recipe. The cubes are broken up and used as flavouring in meals or gravy or dissolved in boiling water to make a hot drink.
History
Concentrated meat extract was invented by Justus Liebig around 1840 and commercialized by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company starting in 1866. The original product was a viscous liquid containing only meat extract and 4% salt.
In 1899, the company introduced the trademark Oxo for a cheaper version; the origin of the name is unknown, but presumably comes from the word ox; or it may have been a mark made on crate of the extract at the docks. In 1908 Oxo sponsored the London Olympic Games and supplied athletes with Oxo drinks to fortify them. The first Oxo cubes were produced in 1910 and furthur increased Oxo's popularity as the cubes were cheaper than the liquid. During the first half of the 20th century, Oxo was promoted through issues of recipes, gifts and sponsorships before fading into the background as a part of the fabric of British life in the latter parts of the century. For the beginning of the 21st century a new image was promoted with modern television advertising and sensibilities.
Oxo is now a brand of the Campbell Soup Company.
Ingredients
Beef Oxo Cubes
- Wheatflour, Salt, yeast extract, cornflour, colouring, flavour enhancers, beef fat, yeast, flavouring, dried beef bonestock, sugar, onion pepper extract.
- Salt, potato starch, wheatflour, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium 5'-ribonucleotides), flavourings (include celery), onion extract, dried glucose syrup, hydrogenated vegetable oil, carrot extract, yeast extract, tapioca dextrin, dried tomato, dried herbs (parsley, bay and thyme) and sugar.
- Wheatflour, salt, sugar, potato starch, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium 5'-ribonucleotides), herbs and spices (fennel, parsley, basil, black pepper), hydrogenated vegetable oil, dried onion, dried glucose syrup, flavouring (contains milk), dried tomato, yeast extract, tapioca dextrin.
See also
External links
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