38 Sweet Facts About Candy - mental_floss on YouTube (Ep. 32)

TL;DR

Discover intriguing candy facts and myths unravelled.

Transcript

hi I'm John Green welcome to my salon this is Mental Floss you know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop well you're about to according to a licking machine at Purdue University and yes I did say licking machine it's 364 but we don't actually have time to lick a Tootsie Pop ourselves because we have to get through like a to... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤢 Candy brands have fascinating origin stories, like the Baby Ruth bar's legal battle with Babe Ruth's baseball legacy.
• 🍫 Military history intertwines with candy production, seen in Hershey's field ration D and the US Army's unusual chocolate bar request.
• 💥 Popular myths debunked, such as gum digestion and the urban legend of exploding soda with Pop Rocks.
• 🍬 Candy companies' decision-making processes revealed, like Mars turning down E.T.'s product placement for M&Ms.
• 🍬 Quirky trivia abounds in the candy industry, from the association of Nerds candy with breakfast cereals to bizarre candy flavors like vegetable sandwich bars.
• 🍬 Iconic candy bar names like Milky Way and Andes Mints have unexpected origins, showcasing the creativity and marketing strategies of candy companies.
• 🍬 Consumer preferences and cultural trends influence candy production, as seen in the evolution of candy flavors and the renaming of products like Opal Fruits to Starbursts.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the original purpose of the Hershey's field ration D chocolate bar?

The Hershey's field ration D chocolate bar was designed to provide energy for soldiers without being too palatable to prevent soldiers from eating it casually.

Q: Why did red M&Ms disappear from production in 1976?

Red M&Ms were removed from production in 1976 due to consumer concerns over the suspected carcinogen dye amaranth, despite the fact that M&Ms did not contain it.

Q: How did the Charleston Chew candy bar get its name?

The Charleston Chew candy bar was named after the Charleston dance, reflecting the cultural influences at the time of its creation.

Q: What was the origin of the Pez candy name?

The name Pez comes from the German word for peppermint, Fez er mints, as it was the first flavor produced by the company.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Exploring candy industry secrets with anecdotes and history behind popular treats.

• Dispelling myths about gum digestion, urban legends, and candy bar origins.

• Entertaining trivia about iconic candy brands and their quirky origins.