Candy Corn makes me think of Halloween. I love the stuff. I know I am weird. Most folks hate it. It is chicken feed for Halloween.
Candy corn has been around for more than 100 years. George Renninger, an employee of the Wunderlee Candy Company, invented the popular confection in the 1880s and Wunderlee became the first to produce the candy. The Goelitz Candy Company (now Jelly Belly Candy Company) started producing the confection in 1900 and still produces candy corn today.
Back in 1950, Goelitz’s New Jersey factory was making a big batch of the stuff in a kettle lined with beeswax when the kettle caught fire just before their big Halloween rush. Flames devoured the block-long building as police held back a throng of 5,000 onlookers, according to a report in The Newark Star-Ledger. All 12 workers escaped unharmed, but the same can’t be said for the Halloween confections. About 2,000 pounds of candy corn were lost in the inferno of smoke and sugar giving competitors a window of opportunity to supply stores with extra bags of the stuff when Goelitz couldn’t meet their demands.
A serving of candy corn has about 22 pieces and contains 140 calories, no fat. While it is just about all sugar, the sweet can still be a better choice than a couple of mini candy bars or other Halloween treats that are high in both calories and in fat. Additionally, 22 pieces of candy corn will last alot longer than one mini candy bar will. Not that I give a shake about my own health at this time of year.
If this post doesnt get your Halloween taste buds running go away.. BOO!