Who is credited with the invention of the spork?

Back in early 2013, a middle schooler in a Chicago suburb found herself at lunch with the same utensil many of her 640 classmates used: a plastic spork – a hybrid of a spoon and fork.

However, this could soon be different. A group of students at the school made a short film titled "Sporktagion," where a "sporkitis" epidemic spreads as everyone opts to toss items rather than recycle. The goal is to inspire students to use reusable metal cutlery during their meals [source: Fox].

It seems they may not be aware that sporks don't need to be crafted from heat-molded plastics. They can be fashioned from various materials, including wood, steel, glass, and titanium. Special versions are available for office workers, campers, prisoners, left-handed individuals, and toddlers. Some feature ergonomic handles (for left-handed users and children), while others have shorter, blunter tines (designed for prisoners to minimize their weaponization potential) [source: Wilson].

The spork's business end is similar to a spoon, but with a set of fork tines extending from the bowl. This clever utensil serves the dual purpose of consuming soup and stabbing solid foods—without requiring a change from one utensil to another. Sporks are popular in schools, fast-food chains, prisons, and other food-serving institutions, as there’s no need to invest in multiple types of utensils. Moreover, plastic sporks are budget-friendly, with bulk purchases costing as little as $10 for a thousand units [source: Webstaurant].

Before dismissing the spork as merely a tool for the masses, consider the refined version, which is suitable for use at home or in upscale dining settings. These high-end sporks are crafted from premium materials, such as silver plating, and often feature a sharp edge, allowing them to function as a knife as well.

A Brief History of the Spork

Sporks are a relatively recent invention. While spoons have existed since ancient times and two-pronged forks were used in cooking by the Greeks and Romans, the combination of these two utensils didn’t come until much later. Wealthy families started using forks during the Middle Ages, and it took centuries before the spork, combining the two tools, appeared. In the Victorian era, a utensil resembling a spork could be found in the form of an ice cream fork [source: Bramen].

In 1874, Samuel W. Francis was granted a U.S. patent for a utensil featuring a spoon-like bowl, fork tines, and a knife-edge on its handle. While it remains unclear whether Francis produced this tool on a large scale, subsequent patents improved upon the design, experimenting with deeper bowls, shorter tines, and the use of plastic in construction.

It wasn't until 1970 when the Van Brode Milling Co. received a U.S. patent that the term "spork" became officially linked to its design. Whether due to the catchy name or just good business timing, soon after, Kentucky Fried Chicken became the first fast-food chain to include plastic sporks with its meals [source: Made How].

A few years later, for reasons unknown, the Van Brode Milling Co. gave up its patent, which was then acquired by Plastico Limited from the U.K. The spork quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, and today, it's a common sight in fast-food meals, often packaged alongside napkins and condiments.

If you're ever in need of a spork but don't have one, try the iSpork app. This iPhone app lets users swipe a virtual spork to simulate eating, with various meal options to choose from [source: iTunes].