Unwrapping the Spooky Secrets: Top 11 Fun Facts About Halloween Candy You Need to Know

1. National Candy Corn Day Sugar Rush

In a stunning twist of sugary fate, candy corn has managed to kernel-ize America's addiction to the tiny tri-colored kernels into a full-fledged, nationally recognized holiday – the tooth fairy must be thrilled: National Candy Corn Day rolls out its sugar carpet every year on October 30th, allowing us to partake in over 35 million pounds or 9 billion pieces, of this polarizing Halloween treat, boasting a mere 28 grams of sugar and 140 calories per delightful handful, meanwhile enjoying a rigor mortis-like shelf life if stored like a true, treat-obsessed hoarder.
Source => bhg.com

2. Reese's: E.T.'s Preferred Treat

Are Reese's Pieces celestial gifts from E.T.? Have Snickers bar become the ultimate peacemakers, or do M&M's possess otherworldly powers? Well, folks, the Halloween candy scuffles have been settled, and the taste buds have spoken: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups emerged as the undisputed sweet champion with more than 3 million pounds sold in 2019, trailed by Snickers and M&M's in the race for America's most adored Halloween treats.
Source => blog.gitnux.com

Did you know jack-o-lanterns didn't start with pumpkins? Irish folks used to carve frightening faces on turnips and potatoes! Discover how they made the switch to pumpkins in America. 🎃🇮🇪

=> Fun Facts about Halloween-For-Kids

3. M&M's: The Non-Melting Military Fuel

Before M&M's became little colorful soldiers in the battle against sweet cravings, they were actual soldiers serving as military provisions: During World War II, M&M's were exclusively sold to the U.S. Army, who saw the candy-coated chocolates as a way to provide troops with a non-melting treat in tropical climates. This demand led to increased production and a move to a new factory in Newark, New Jersey, until finally settling in their current Hackettstown and Tennessee locations, splitting the duty of fighting off sugar starvation.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. The Birth of Fun-Size Candies

It's a small world after all, especially in the candy aisle: During the Great Depression in the 1930s, candy companies like Curtiss Candy and Mars, Inc. introduced and popularized smaller, budget-friendly versions of their candy bars, with the term "fun size" being officially coined by Mars in 1968. Despite legal battles over the trademark, these fun-sized treats have remained an irresistibly sweet staple on Halloween and other candy-centric occasions.
Source => time.com

5. E.T. Boosts Reese's Pieces Sales

In a galaxy far, far away – okay, not that far away – there was a sweet skirmish of astronomical proportions between M&Ms and Reese's Pieces for a role in a blockbuster movie: Notably, Steven Spielberg had originally intended to lure E.T. to Elliot's home with Mars, Inc.'s colorful M&Ms, but due to the company's reluctance to provide their candy without seeing the script, Spielberg switched over to Hershey's Reese's Pieces. This led to a massive 65% boost in sales for the peanut butter-filled candies upon the movie's release, making Reese's Pieces a candy that truly took us to the stars.
Source => etonline.com

6. Baby Ruth: A Presidential Name Debate

What do a baseball legend and a former president's daughter have in common? It's not a secret love affair, but rather, a caramel-coated, nougat-filled chocolate bar up for a name-game debate! Here's the scoop: Baby Ruth candy bars were actually claimed to be named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth Cleveland, and not Babe Ruth, the renowned slugger. Despite fans crying foul over this narrative, the candy did hit a home run, becoming a best-seller and maintaining its popularity for over six decades; now, as part of the Ferrara Candy Company's roster, it continues to be a heavy hitter in the confectionery world.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Penny Candy's Pound-Wise Origins

Talk about 99 "problems" but a penny ain't one: Penny Candy, popular since the late 1800s, got its name not from its price, but from being sold in bulk by the pound rather than by the piece. Tootsie Rolls, Necco Wafers, Hershey's Kisses, and more once sweetened the deals at stores like Woolworths, adding a little chewy nostalgia to main streets across America.
Source => chefs.edu

8. Snickers: Racehorse to Halloween Hit

If you ever wondered why a treat named "Snickers" neigh-ver disappoints on Halloween night, then hold your horses! We've got the answer: Snickers bars, named after a cherished racehorse in the Mars family, became a Halloween favorite when candy manufacturers capitalized on the trick-or-treating tradition in the 1950s, which itself traces its roots all the way back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, and now over 200 million pounds of candy are sold for Halloween each year in the United States alone.
Source => tastingtable.com

9. Gummy Bears' Dancing Beginnings

Who knew dancing bears could be so sweet and chewy? A confectionery waltz turned gelatinous jig, the origin of gummy bears is a delightfully unexpected tale: The brainchild of German candy-preneur Hans Riegel Sr., these scrumptious morsels first took form in the 1920s in his home kitchen with wife Gertrud as his first employee. Initially named the Dancing Bear (Tanzbären), their shape was inspired by real dancing bears at European festivals. As years went by and shapes morphed, Haribo's now-iconic Goldbears were born, gracing more than 100 countries with their raspberry, lemon, strawberry, pineapple, and orange flavors and over 160 million gummy morsels produced daily.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

10. Skittles: The British Candy Invasion

Before Skittles became "taste the rainbow" sensations and brightened up our trick-or-treat bags, they were busy charming British sweet-tooths into submission like a fruity-flavored Benedict Cumberbatch: Skittles originated in the UK and were imported to the US in 1979, eventually gaining massive popularity as a fruity candy brand in over 60 countries worldwide.
Source => facts.net

11. Jelly Belly's Flavor Roulette

If life were a box of Jelly Belly jelly beans, you'd never know which flavor you're going to get – sweet, sour, or the savory taste of buttered popcorn: Spanning over 50 flavors since the 1960s, including alcohol-inspired ones like mojito and margarita minus the buzz, Jelly Belly's confectionery gamut covers classics, oddballs, and even candy corn and chocolates to keep Halloween spirits eternally amused and well-fed.
Source => en.wikipedia.org