The Frito-Lay onion-flavored corn snack introduced in the United States in 1969 was Funyuns.
Funyuns are ring-shaped corn snacks designed to resemble fried onion rings, although they are made primarily from cornmeal rather than sliced onions. Their onion flavor comes from a salt-and-onion seasoning blend. The product was invented by Frito-Lay employee George Wade Bigner and remains part of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay portfolio.
The name was not the snack’s first proposed name. “OnYums” was considered, but that name was already a registered trademark belonging to Rudolph Foods. University of North Texas professor and copywriter Jim Albright suggested “Funyuns,” a playful name that was ultimately adopted.
Funyuns are often confused with actual fried onion rings because of their shape and flavor, but their extrusion process makes them a packaged corn snack. Original Funyuns have been sold since 1969, while later variations have included Flamin’ Hot and limited-edition flavors. In Brazil, the product is sold as Cebolitos.