Fun Food Facts - Candy Canes and M&M's
By DB
@dgobucks226 (34979)
December 18, 2020 6:36pm CST
Two popular treats around the holidays are Candy Canes and M&M's. I use Candy Canes to put on the tree and can't resist having one as a sweet snack. Same with M&M's which I keep in a party dish. I also bake M&M cookies. Anyway, I've also discovered some unusual facts about these two favorite junk foods. Check them out below....
CANDY CANES
Is there a right or wrong way to eat a Candy Cane? There really isn't but there is a preference. According to the National Confectioners Association 58% of consumers eat the stick portion of this striped treat first.
-How do you eat yours? Stick side or curved side first?
M&M'S
What's with the small letter m on the candy that "melts in your mouth not in your hand?" M&M's hit the candy market in the 1940's and they were instantly popular. The idea for these button sized treats came about from Forrest Mars Sr., son of founder Frank C. Mars, who observed British soldiers during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's eating British-made Smartie-sized chocolate pellets. They had a colored shell which prevented them from melting. Mars developed his own patent and process to produce this chocolate snack and later added the letter "m" to the hard shell. But why? The reason was to trademark them against competitors who would try to imitate them. And to further make M&M's unique they added the slogan "Look for the m on every piece."
-What's your favorite color M&M and do like plain or peanut? And do you know what the M&M stands for?
Sources- The Daily Meal and Wikipedia
9 people like this
8 responses
@dgobucks226 (34979)
•
20 Dec 20
I like plain too! Here are some additional facts- 12% of candy cane eaters break their treat into pieces and eat it.
Initially the small m on M&M's was stamped in black color in 1950. Later it was changed to the familiar white in 1954.
The two 'M's represent the names of Forrest E. Mars Sr., the founder of Newark Company, and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey Chocolate's president William F. R. Murrie, who owned a 20% share.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
20 Dec 20
@dgobucks226 You are just full of information, thanks!
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@dgobucks226 (34979)
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20 Dec 20
You welcome. Plain for me too. Initially the small m on M&M's was stamped in black color in 1950. Later it was changed to the familiar white in 1954.
The two 'M's represent the names of Forrest E. Mars Sr., the founder of Newark Company, and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey Chocolate's president William F. R. Murrie, who owned a 20% share.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (334690)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 20
@dgobucks226 I didn't know that about the name either. They are a popular sweet here.
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@RebeccasFarm (88398)
• Arvada, Colorado
9 Jan 21
I had no idea M and Ms were that old. I love them all. I do not know what the M and M stands for no.
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@RebeccasFarm (88398)
• Arvada, Colorado
12 Jan 21
@dgobucks226 Oh cool thanks DB
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@dgobucks226 (34979)
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12 Jan 21
M&M stood for the two company founders Forrest E. Mars Sr., of Newark Company, and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey Chocolate's president William F. R. Murrie, who owned a 20% share.
Initially the small m on M&M's was stamped in black color in 1950. Later it was changed to the familiar white in 1954.
1 person likes this
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@LadyDuck (467378)
• Switzerland
21 Dec 20
@dgobucks226 As much as I love dark chocolate I do not care of any other kind of chocolates. Switzerland is considering to ban M&M because of the dangerous artificial colors... they were banned for years even by the FDA.
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@dgobucks226 (34979)
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20 Dec 20
I've tried both ways with candy canes. 12% of candy cane eaters break their treat into pieces and eat it.
Yep, that is correct
Dark chocolate is much healthier anyway ![](/Content/images/emotes/thumbup.gif)
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@just4him (317038)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Dec 20
Did you know the candy cane represents a shepherd's crook? Do you know the red stripe on the candy cane represents the blood of Christ? Now you know. I eat the curved part first. I like to be different.
Since I can't eat peanuts, my favorite is plain chocolate. I also like the green ones.
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@just4him (317038)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Dec 20
@dgobucks226 I don't recall having a green one. I know I've seen them.
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@dgobucks226 (34979)
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23 Dec 20
Actually I have heard that before, lol. Some strong symbolism there! I like the green ones too. I use the curved part to hold so it's stick side for me unless I decide to break it into pieces like 12% of candy cane eaters ![](/Content/images/emotes/wink.gif)
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@LindaOHio (171063)
• United States
19 Dec 20
Candy canes are not a favorite; but I eat the stick end first. Mars and Murrie -- I looked it up! I prefer the plain and like all the colors.
Interesting facts.
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@LindaOHio (171063)
• United States
21 Dec 20
@dgobucks226 I always learn something when you're around! :-)
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@dgobucks226 (34979)
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20 Dec 20
Glad I inspired you to look that up
Some other Mars candies are Snickers, Twix, Skittles and Orbit. Plain is mine too. I use the red and green for M&M cookies
Initially the small m on M&M's was stamped in black color in 1950. Later it was changed to the familiar white in 1954.
12% of candy cane eaters break their treat into pieces and eat it. I use the stick side first and hold the curved side ![](/Content/images/emotes/lol.gif)
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1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34979)
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23 Dec 20
@LindaOHio Thanks.... Historical trivia keeps me interested and stimulates my brain ![](/Content/images/emotes/rofl.gif)
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@dgobucks226 (34979)
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20 Dec 20
Never tried mint
I like plain too.
Additional Fun Facts
12% of candy cane eaters break their treat into pieces and eat it.
Initially the small m on M&M's was stamped in black color in 1950. Later it was changed to the familiar white in 1954.
The two 'M's represent the names of Forrest E. Mars Sr., the founder of Newark Company, and Bruce Murrie, son of Hershey Chocolate's president William F. R. Murrie, who owned a 20% share.
![](/Content/images/emotes/shocked.gif)
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34979)
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24 Dec 20
The stick side is definitely easier than going with the curved side first. 12% of candy cane eaters break their treat into pieces and eat it. I've done that too..
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