9 Fun Facts You Might Not Know About Your Favorite Halloween Candy.

Halloween candy is a staple this time of year. One house on your block always gives out apples or small bags of chips. Everyone else opts for the sweet stuff. Candy bars, taffy, bubble gum, and jawbreakers. We love it all. I’m the house that always has the “Child’s Play” mix. Those are all my favorite candies in one bag, and if the trick-or-treaters let me down, I have to eat the leftovers.

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If you’re curious, the “Child’s Play” has been on store shelves consistently since 1986. It is the world’s best-selling candy assortment. The mix is so popular that Tootsie Roll markets a spring mix to help the Easter Bunny!

Although the Tootsie Roll manufacturers may want us to believe “The World May Never Know,” kids worldwide are determined to tell us. While the Wise Owl claims three licks, more than 20,000 kids have sent letters to Tootsie Roll to report how many licks it took them!

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the number one selling candy for Halloween. The sweet goodness of peanut butter wrapped in a delicious chocolate shell is awesome. Or perhaps people buy them for the kids because they like them and they have to consume any leftovers? Keeping my fingers out of the candy bowl before the kids come around is always challenging.

Consumers purchase about 90 million pounds of sweet candy for Halloween. That equates to more than 4.6 billion dollars in candy sales! About 65 percent of all citizens stay home or attend Trunk-or-Treat events to pass out candy.

Well, maybe not forever, but it first appeared in the 1880s. You can always tell when Halloween is near because you start seeing candy corn on displays at every market. Created to look like chicken feed, the candy was called by the moniker “Chicken Feed” until World War I.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Kit Kat, Snickers, Original M&Ms, Butterfinger (but only in Kentucky), and Milky Way top the list of favorite candies in most states. Several states opt for Skittles, including Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington. Starburst is a favorite in Texas, Michigan, and Delaware. Hot Tamales made the list in Montana and Vermont.

The size was introduced by Mars in 1961, specifically targeting the Halloween market. In 1968, the name “Fun Size” was coined. Snickers and Milky Way were the first fun-sized candy bars. The Curtiss Candy Co. adopted the small size for their Butterfinger and Baby Ruth bars. Mars sued them, claiming trademark rights on “Fun Size.” Mars lost, so now many manufacturers use the size to market smaller portions for Halloween.

Used during World War II, Tootsie Rolls were included in ration kits as a source of “quick energy.” Their hardiness and ability to withstand changing weather greatly influenced their selection. This created some confusion during the Korean Conflict because the troops used the phrase “Tootsie Rolls” as code for mortar shells. A request was sent out for Tootsie Rolls, meaning mortar shells, but the troops were sent the sugary confection! Not to let any supplies go to waste, the malleable chocolate logs were molded into patches to plug holes in vehicles and equipment!

Many may seem normal, such as coconut, strawberry, or cheesecake. Some are downright icky (they might be considered eccentric?). Wasabi? Sweet potato? Chili? I’ll pass on those and stick with what I know and love.

Although many people may agree with this assessment, judging Circus Peanuts so harshly is unfair. Even though we don’t know quite what these nuggets of orange-flavored something are, it doesn’t mean we should be hating on them!

We hope you had fun exploring some odd and fun facts about Halloween candy with us. As we gear up for the spooky night, please stay safe (and warm if you’re in the northern climates). Share these facts with your friends. They make great conversation starters. You can also use them as a distraction while raiding their candy bowl!

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