OMG, M&M's are like the ultimate candy, amirite? These colorful little chocolates with their hard shells are seriously loved all over the world. But did you know there are some super tasty facts about M&M's that you might not know? Get ready to have your mind blown, from chocolate mishaps to secret stamps. Let's dive in!
A Chocolatey Mishap at the M&M's Factory
Okay, so picture this: Two workers at the Mars M&M factory in Pennsylvania fell into a vat of chocolate. I know, it sounds like something straight out of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, right? They were totally stuck in that waist-high gooey goodness, and lifting them out was impossible. The fire crew had to cut a hole in the tank to save them. Talk about a sticky situation!
M&M's Stands for Mars and Murrie
Ever wondered what M&M's stands for? Well, here's the scoop: The name actually comes from Mars and Murrie. Forrest Mars (son of the Mars founder) and Bruce Murrie (son of Hershey's President) joined forces during World War II in 1939. They started the M&M's journey together, but now their brands are like total rivals. It's a candy showdown!
M&M's Used to Have Hershey Chocolate
In the early days, M&M's were actually made with Hershey chocolate. Bruce Murrie promised Forrest Mars a reliable cocoa supply during wartime rationing, so they teamed up. But later on, Mars bought back Murrie's share and stopped using Hershey chocolate. Things change, you know?
The Idea for M&M's Came from Spain
So, get this: Forrest Mars got the idea for M&M's while he was in Spain. He saw soldiers eating chocolate with sugar shells that prevented them from melting in the warm weather. Genius, right? That's where he got the inspiration for M&M's and their famous slogan "melts in your mouth, not in your hand." Sweet!
The First M&M's Factory was in New Jersey
When M&M's Limited started out, their factory was in Newark, New Jersey. But as the demand grew, they had to move to Hackettstown, New Jersey, in 1958. And guess what? That factory is still there today, producing tons of M&M's. Talk about a candy empire!
They Originally Came in Cardboard Tubes
Before those plastic packets, M&M's came in brown cardboard tubes. You'd open one end, and the candies would pour right into your hands. Plus, the lid could be snapped back on if you only wanted a few. It wasn't until 1948 that the brown bags we know today came into play. Times change, packaging evolves!
Initially Only the Military Could Have Them
Believe it or not, M&M's were first available exclusively to the military. Those tubes of chocolate were included in soldiers' rations because they didn't melt and could be resealed. It wasn't until later that civilians could finally get their hands on these sweet treats. Lucky us!
The Original Color Selection Included Violet
When M&M's first hit the scene, they came in six colors: brown, yellow, orange, red, green, and violet. But then in 1949, they switched violet to tan. And here's a fun fact: The company even asked customers to vote for a new color, and blue was the winner. So now we have brown, yellow, orange, red, green, and blue M&M's. Yum!
M&M's Are Stamped with the "m" to Prove They're Legit
You know that signature "m" stamp on M&M's? Well, it wasn't always there. It wasn't until 1950 that they started stamping each candy with the "m." It became their iconic trademark, and they even had a slogan like "Look for the m on every piece." And hey, have you ever noticed the ripple on top of a Mars bar? It's their way of standing out, even without the wrapper.
You'll Never Find Imperfections in M&M's
Forrest Mars was all about quality control. He was a perfectionist, seriously. If he saw an M&M without the "m" perfectly centered, he would recall the whole batch. That's some next-level attention to detail! And here's a random tidbit: The level of bacteria on the floor in a Mars factory is supposedly lower than an average kitchen sink. Clean and delicious!
So there you have it, some seriously tasty facts about M&M's that'll make you appreciate these little candies even more. They're not just delicious, they have a sweet history too. Now go grab a bag of M&M's and enjoy the chocolatey goodness!
