Take a trip down memory lane with these quirky animal cracker facts, from their curious past to fun trivia
14 Fascinating Animal Cracker Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
Updated on Apr. 30, 2025
One of the best parts of being a kid is the snacks. From Pop-Tarts and Little Debbie cakes to Bagel Bites and Scooby Doo fruit snacks, our childhood favorites satisfied all our sweet and savory cravings. But if we’re being honest (and maybe a little controversial), the absolute best nostalgic snack was always animal crackers.
Yeah, you heard us. They may not be flashy, but they’re crunchy, kind of sweet and cut into the shape of adorable zoo animals. It’s the perfect combination of food and fun. While you’re no doubt familiar with the famous shapes and packaging, how well do you really know animal cracker facts?
It turns out there’s a lot of history behind this little snack. So tear open a box of your favorite snack and get ready to dig in to some little-known animal cracker facts.
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Animal cracker facts
If you’re wild about animal crackers, get ready to be surprised by these fascinating facts about the longstanding snack.
1. Animal crackers originated in England
Across the pond, the crackers have been a staple treat since the 1800s. (The British name for the food is “biscuit,” not cracker, by the way.) After being imported for years, the crackers became so popular in the United States that bakers started to experiment with their own versions.
2. Animal crackers are the name of the snack, not the brand
Several U.S. companies currently produce animal-shaped crackers. The first to do so was the Stauffer Biscuit Co. (now a part of Meiji America), which launched in 1871. The brand still uses the original recipe and produces both iced and chocolate animal crackers.
You’re likely also familiar with Nabisco’s Barnum’s Animals, which come in the classic red box, and Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies, which are covered in pink or white frosting and sprinkles.
3. They were once a great bargain
In 1902, Nabisco sold one box of Barnum’s Animals for 5 cents. Today, a box goes for about $3 to $4, while a bag of Mother’s Circus Animal Cookies costs around $4 to $5.
4. There have been dozens of animal-shaped crackers
Barnum’s Animals, for instance, has cut its sweet crackers into the shape of over 53 animals! Over the years, you may have bit the head off tigers, cougars, camels, rhinoceroses, kangaroos, hippopotamuses, bison, lions, hyenas, zebras, elephants, sheep, bears, gorillas, monkeys, seals, giraffes and more.
5. The monkey is the only animal that wears clothes
No one knows why, but the monkey is the only animal who’s ever appeared wearing clothes—a pair of pants, to be more specific.
6. The most recent animal added to the collection is a koala
In 2002, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Nabisco held a contest to choose the next animal to join the animal cracker circus. The koala beat out the penguin, cobra and walrus.
7. Nabisco was the first to sell the crackers in boxes
In 1902, Nabisco started selling Barnum’s Animals. The snack was based on P.T. Barnum’s popular circus and featured a box with illustrated animals in cages, calling to mind the train cars the circus used to transport its animals. Before this, the crackers had been sold only in bulk from a barrel.
8. There is a reason for the string on the box
Nabisco originally intended for shoppers to use the string to hang the box as an ornament on a Christmas tree. But now, it’s a convenient way for toddlers to tote around their snacks. Talk about multipurpose packaging.
9. A lot of string is used for animal cracker boxes
How’s this for a wild animal cracker fact: Around 8,000 miles’ worth of string is used for the boxes every year!
10. Nabisco redesigned its animal cracker box in 2018
After 116 years, Nabisco uncaged the animals featured on its box. They’re now pictured roaming around in the grass instead of behind bars.
The change happened after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pressured the company to change the box, citing the cruelty inflicted on animals in the circus. Initiatives like updating food packaging for sustainability, functionality and animal-friendly messaging represent the ongoing evolution of snack foods.
11. Animal crackers are baked quickly
Animal crackers bake for about four minutes in a 300-foot-long conveyor-belt oven. That means the production line turns out 12,000 crackers per minute, so there’s no shortage of your favorite snack
12. Animal crackers have their own day
It’s April 18, so stock up on a box or two to celebrate.
13. Shirley Temple famously sang about animal crackers
In the movie Curly Top (1935), Shirley Temple sang a song called “Animal Crackers in My Soup.” The lyrics weren’t exactly accurate, though. She sang, “monkeys and rabbits loop the loop.” But here’s an animal cracker fact for you: Rabbits have never been made into animal crackers. Still, the song was so popular that Nabisco used it in commercials for many years.
14. Americans chowed down on animal crackers during the pandemic
According to Statista, almost a million Americans consumed eight or more packages of animal crackers in 2020 alone.
FAQs
How many different animals are there in animal crackers?
There have been at least 53 animals in just Nabisco’s animal cracker box! The exact animals you get in your box can vary widely.
Who invented animal crackers?
It’s unclear exactly who invented animal crackers, but they were first produced in England back in the early 19th century. The crackers were first produced in the United States by the Stauffer Biscuit Co., which was founded by David F. Stauffer. So you can think of Stauffer as a kind of godfather to U.S. animal crackers.
Are Barnum’s Animal crackers still made?
Absolutely! These animal-shaped crackers are still being made and are widely available at grocery stores and online.
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Sources:
- Metal Floss: “11 Wild Facts About Animal Crackers”
- Eat Wheat: “Animal Cracker Facts”
- Los Angeles Times: “A Box Filled With Sweet Memories”
- Statista: “Packages of Nabisco Barnum’s Animal Crackers cookies eaten in the U.S. 2020”
- Thrillist: “Animal Crackers, Ranked by Shape”
- PETA: “What Barnum’s Animals Crackers’ New Box Tells Us About Animal Liberation”
