[1] Their distinctive shape is a characteristic that has been adopted by competitors, including generic fig bars sold in many markets.

The Newton was invented by Philadelphia baker Charles Roser, who likely took inspiration for the recipe from the fig roll, a baked good introduced to the U.S. by British immigrants.

[2] Roser used a machine invented by James Henry Mitchell which allowed for the extrusion of fig jam and cookie dough at the same time into a long, continuous roll.

[6] In 1991, Nabisco was producing around a billion Newtons per year, with the cookie generating $200 million in sales.

[9] In 2011, a crisp cookie was introduced in the United States named Newtons Fruit Thins, after being successfully marketed by Kraft in Canada as Lifestyle Selections, a variety of Peek Freans.