If you think you know every sweet treat on the shelf, think again. Below are 10 strange stories that reveal how some of our most beloved candies earned their names, survived bizarre rumors, or even made it to the South Pole. Grab a snack and settle in for a tasty history lesson.
10 Saltwater Taffy Was Probably Named As A Joke
Exactly where saltwater taffy first appeared remains a mystery, but two strong contenders emerge: the bustling Atlantic City boardwalk in New Jersey and the traveling fairs of the Midwest during the 1800s. Both locales were hotbeds for confectioners experimenting with soft, pulled sugar treats.
The base recipe blends sugar, a pinch of salt, flavor extracts, corn syrup, and a host of optional add‑ins that differ from shop to shop. After cooking, the mixture is stretched and folded repeatedly, a process that injects air and yields the signature chewiness. Despite its moniker, genuine saltwater never finds its way into the batter, though a few modern brands sprinkle a little extra salt for a salty‑sweet punch.
Legend has it that the name sprang from a storm‑soaked mishap in 1883. Candymaker David Bradley’s shop was flooded by Atlantic waves, drenching his taffy stock. Customers still queued for a taste, prompting Bradley to quip that the confection was now “salt‑water taffy.” The joke stuck, and the name endured.
Fast forward to 1923, when John Edmiston attempted to trademark the term and collect royalties from anyone selling “salt‑water taffy.” The Supreme Court ruled that the phrase had entered the public lexicon long before his claim, denying him any profit. The name survived the legal battle and now describes virtually any soft, pulled candy, salty or sweet.
9 Cotton Candy Was Promoted By Dentists
Originally dubbed “fairy floss,” cotton candy has worn many aliases, from candy floss to spun sugar. In 1899, John C. Wharton and William J. Morrison patented a machine that could melt sugar and fling it into airy clouds. They unveiled their invention at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, where they sold nearly 70,000 boxes.
The sugary cloud‑making contraption caught the eye of a surprising advocate: dentist‑turned‑inventor William J. Morrison. Though he practiced dentistry, Morrison also dabbled in law, writing, and civic leadership. His involvement raised eyebrows because the floss‑like treat is pure, caramelized sugar—hardly a dental friend.
By 1900, the circus magnates Ringling Brothers were introduced to cotton candy through Thomas Patton, who refined the machine’s design. Later, another dentist, Josef Lascaux, tinkered with a version of his own, never filing a patent but coining the name “cotton candy.”
Why two dentists championed this confection remains speculative, but one can guess that the sweet, melt‑in‑the‑mouth experience sparked a rush of cavities, prompting dental professionals to both marvel at and warn about its effects.
8 Pop Rocks Caused Urban Legend And Widespread Panic
General Foods researcher William A. Mitchell cooked up Pop Rocks in 1956, creating tiny sugar crystals that trap carbon dioxide bubbles. When the candy dissolves, the bubbles burst, producing a crackling, popping sensation in the mouth or even in water.
These fizzy morsels sparked a wildly persistent urban legend by 1979: a rumor claimed a child had exploded after munching Pop Rocks while drinking soda. The Food and Drug Administration even set up a hotline to field frantic calls from worried parents.
To combat the hysteria, Pop Rocks’ makers launched a massive public‑relations push, assuring consumers that the candy was safe. Despite the effort, sales dwindled, and the brand vanished from shelves in 1983. Decades later, a nostalgic revival brought the popping treats back, and they’ve enjoyed renewed popularity ever since.
The myth still surfaces in pop culture, most famously on the TV show MythBusters. Rest assured, the most you’ll feel is a mild stomach upset—not an explosive reaction.
7 Lollipops Have Strange Name Origins
Long before modern candy sticks, people in the 17th century enjoyed boiled‑sugar treats that were pressed onto wooden sticks for easy eating. These early soft sweets laid the groundwork for today’s lollipop.
In the early 1900s, McAviney Candy Company’s owner began salvaging leftover stir sticks from candy batches for his children. The same year, 1908, saw the debut of the first automated machine that attached sticks to hard candy, a breakthrough credited to inventor Samuel Born, who later received a key to San Francisco for his achievement.
George Smith, working for the Bradley Smith Company, began marketing the modern lollipop in 1908. He officially coined the term “lollipop” in 1931, borrowing it from a celebrated racehorse of the era named Lolly Pop.
When the Great Depression forced many manufacturers to halt production, the name fell into the public domain. Linguists note that “lolly” was Old English slang for “tongue,” while “pop” meant “to slap,” together implying a “tongue‑slapper.” Some scholars even suggest a link to the Latin phrase loli phaba (meaning “red apple”), perhaps referencing an ancient Roman toffee apple.
6 Snickers Also Has Strange Name Origins
The Snickers bar entered the market in 1930 after three years of development by Frank and Ethel Mars, the founders of Mars, Inc. Though not the first candy to combine peanuts, caramel, and nougat, Snickers quickly became a staple of American confectionery.
The name’s origin is a touching tribute: Ethel Mars’ beloved horse, also named Snickers, passed away just months before the bar’s debut. In honor of the animal, the couple christened their new creation “Snickers.”
Interestingly, the farm where the horse lived was called Milky Way Farm—mirroring the company’s earlier hit, the Milky Way bar. Despite the whimsical naming, Snickers has endured as one of the world’s best‑selling chocolate bars.
5 Circus Peanuts Inspired Lucky Charms
These banana‑flavored, peanut‑shaped marshmallows have been a staple penny candy since the 1800s, earning a love‑it‑or‑hate‑it reputation. No one knows who first invented them, nor why they chose a banana taste for a peanut‑shaped treat.
Regardless of their mysterious origins, Circus Peanuts played a pivotal role in cereal history. General Mills product developer John Holahan discovered that mixing Cheerios with bits of Circus Peanuts produced a snack that kids adored. This accidental marriage birthed the iconic Lucky Charms cereal, famous for its marshmallow “marbits.”
So, even if you’re not a fan of the chewy banana candy, you can thank its creators for the magical marshmallows that brighten countless breakfast bowls.
4 M&M'S Lost A Color In Cancer Panic
Forrest Mars Sr., son of Frank and Ethel Mars, drew inspiration from the candy‑coated chocolates packed for soldiers during World War II. The resulting product, M&M's, debuted in 1941 and was named after Forrest and Hershey executive William Murrie.
The original palette featured brown, red, violet, yellow, and green. In 1979, the FDA raised concerns about a food dye—FD&C Red No. 2—after a Russian study linked it to tumors in female rats. Although the test was later deemed flawed and the dye wasn’t actually used in M&M's, public anxiety surged.
To soothe worried consumers, Mars temporarily replaced the red candies with orange ones, assuring the public that the new hue was safe. By 1987, the red color returned, now derived from the FDA‑approved Red No. 40, and the classic five‑color mix was restored.
3 Necco Wafers Were Brought To The South Pole By The Ton
First crafted in 1847 when Oliver Chase invented the lozenge cutter, Necco Wafers quickly became a staple of American candy culture. Their chalk‑like texture made them ideal for transport, especially during World II, when the military ordered large quantities for troops.
Explorers also loved them. Arctic adventurer Donald MacMillan handed out Necco Wafers to Indigenous Canadians during his journeys. Yet the most spectacular feat came from Admiral Richard Byrd, who stocked his two‑year South‑Pole expedition with a staggering 2.5 tons of the candy—roughly a pound per crew member each week.
While it’s unclear whether the entire stash was consumed, the eight original flavors survived the harsh Antarctic conditions and remain available today. Aside from price fluctuations, Necco Wafers have changed little since their 19th‑century debut.
2 Dubble Bubble Gum Was An Accident
Chewing gum traces back to ancient peoples who gnawed on tree bark tar, and the Maya and Aztecs, who chewed chicle from sapodilla trees. In the 1840s, John Curtis turned spruce resin into a chewable product, establishing the first gum factory.
The modern incarnation arrived in 1928 when accountant Walter E. Diemer, experimenting in his spare time, stumbled upon a formula that produced a softer, more resilient gum. His breakthrough also yielded the iconic pink hue—a result of using the only food‑grade color available at the time.
After successful trials, Diemer’s gum was marketed as Dubble Bubble. Early packaging featured comic strips starring Dub, Bub, and the ever‑present Pud, further cementing its place in popular culture. During World II, the gum was shipped to troops before wartime shortages forced a temporary halt, but production resumed after the conflict ended.
1 PEZ Dispensers Were Created To Attract Smokers
PEZ was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1927, originally offering peppermint‑flavored tablets packaged in tins. The name derives from the German word pfefferminz, meaning “peppermint.”
Eduard Haas III, the candy’s creator, despised smoking and marketed PEZ as a healthier alternative. In 1949, Oscar Uxa introduced the first flip‑top dispenser, designed to mimic the action of flicking a lighter—an intentional lure for smokers. The slogan “No Smoking, PEZing Allowed” underscored this anti‑smoking stance.
When PEZ entered the American market, the flavor lineup shifted from peppermint to fruit, and the dispensers received whimsical character heads, turning them into collectible toys as well as candy containers.
+ US Senate Candy Desk
The Senate’s “candy desk” sits on the Republican side of the chamber and is stocked with an ever‑changing assortment of sweets. Though traditionally a Republican perk, Democrats are welcome to indulge.
Senator George Murphy, a self‑professed sweet tooth, inaugurated the tradition in 1965 by filling his desk drawer with candy and sharing treats with passing colleagues. When he left office in 1970, his successor kept the custom alive.
The desk’s ownership sparked a minor controversy in 2007 when Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas took over. Critics fretted that Wyoming lacked a major candy manufacturer like Pennsylvania’s Hershey’s, which had supplied roughly 180 kg (400 lb) of candy per year under former Senator Rick Santorum. Wyoming artisans quickly stepped up, ensuring the desk remained well‑stocked.
Today, the candy‑laden desk stands as a quirky reminder that even lawmakers need a sugar boost now and then.
10 Strange Stories About Candy
From boardwalk jokes to Antarctic expeditions, these ten strange stories prove that candy history is as flavorful and surprising as the treats themselves. Keep exploring, keep tasting, and never underestimate the sweet tales behind the sweets.