Candy Corn's Popularity

Candy Corn's Popularity

Today is National Candy Corn Day - a favorite American treat that was once called "chicken feed" due to its similarity to real corn - SupermarketGuru is thankful for the name change! At just 3.57 calories a piece, candy corn is a Halloween staple, and sure we know it hardly resembles corn and isn’t the least bit healthy but maybe it’s time for a healthier candy corn. Halloween accounts for 75% of the annual candy corn production and  according to social media analyst NetBase, candy corn is the most talked about Halloween candy this year – both the good and the bad!

A bit of history; candy corn was created in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company. Not too long afterward, Goelitz Confectionary Co, the firm that ultimately became Jelly Belly, began producing the candy. The National Confectioners Association estimates that 20 million pounds of candy corn are sold each year. The top branded retailer of candy corn today, is Brach's, and it’s thought that they sell enough candy corn annually, to circle the earth 4.25 times if the kernels were laid end to end. Now that’s scary!

Today, candy corn is made primarily from sugar, corn syrup, wax, artificial coloring and binders, but recipes vary by manufacturer. Is candy corn in your pantry this year for Halloween? Or do you stick to other, possibly more healthful treats?

And don't forget there's also Reindeer corn for Christmas (red, green, and white), Cupid corn for Valentine's Day (red, pink, and white) and Bunny corn for Easter (pastel-colored).