Smarties (tablet candy) explained

Smarties
Type:Confectionery
Currentowner:Smarties Candy Company
Origin:United States
Markets:Worldwide

In the United States, Smarties are a type of tablet candy produced by Smarties Candy Company, formerly known as Ce De Candy Inc., since 1949.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Smarties are produced in factories in both Union Township, New Jersey, and Newmarket, Ontario.[2] The candies distributed in Canada are marketed as Rockets, to avoid confusion with Smarties,[2] [6] a chocolate candy produced by Nestlé which owns the trademark in Canada.[7] The New Jersey factory produces approximately 1 billion rolls of Smarties annually,[8] and in total the company produces over 2.5 billion in a year.[6] [9]

One individual candy is a biconcave disc in shape, with a diameter of roughly 1 cm (0.39 in) and a height of roughly 4 mm (0.16 in). Larger ones have a diameter of 2.5 cm (0.98 in) and are about 6 mm (0.24 in) thick. Smarties come in combinations of colors within their wrapped rolls; these include white and pastel shades of yellow, pink, orange, purple, and green.[10] Each color's flavor is different. They are usually packaged as a roll of 15 candies.[2] [11] Smarties candies are peanut-free, gluten-free, fat-free, and dairy-free.[1] [11] All Smarties candies are free of animal products and therefore vegan.[12] [13]

History

See main article: Smarties Candy Company. After World War II, the Dee family bought pellet machines and repurposed them to make candy.[1] [6] [14] This gave the candy its resemblance to tablet-style pills in shape and texture.[6] When sugar prices spiked in the 1970s, Ce De Candy switched from sucrose to dextrose.[6]

Edward Dee founded Ce De Candy in Bloomfield, New Jersey, in 1949. In 2011, the company was renamed Smarties Candy Company, after its most famous product.[15] [16] [2]

In 2004, Ce De Candy Co., Inc., in conjunction with Rock The Vote, manufactured 500,000 special edition Smarties with "Rock the Vote" on the wrapper.[17] A 3.5-ounce Theater box was released in 2009, with a retro look on the boxes.[18] In August 2011, the company confirmed that Smarties are vegan.[19]

Starting on Oct 2, 2022, Smarties launched National Smarties Day, hosting a year supply giveaway of candy and launching a TikTok challenge to celebrate Edward Dee’s birthday.[20]

Snorting controversy

In January 2011, a middle school in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, reported that its students had started to crush the Smarties into a fine powder and inhale them, mimicking a form of drug consumption, following a YouTube trend. Health effects of this trend could be scarring of the nasal cavity, irritation, and a possible risk of allergic reaction. A similar trend also observed at the same time at the Portsmouth school was "smoking" the Smarties, taking in the dust orally and blowing it out, resembling cigarette smoke.[21]

Production

The Smarties Candy Company operates two factories, one in Union, New Jersey, and one in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. The factories produce Smarties 24 hours a day, five days a week, amounting to over 70,000 pounds (around 32,000 kilograms) per day. After mixing the dry ingredients they are pressed into tablets and then stacked and rolled into a Smarties wrapper for packaging.[22] Smarties Candy Company produces over 2 billion Smarties rolls every year.[23]

Ingredients

The ingredients in Smarties candies are dextrose, citric acid, calcium stearate, natural and artificial flavors, and colors.[24] There are 25 calories and 6.9 grams of sugar in a roll of Smarties.[11] [10]

Flavors

Each package contains an assortment of pastel colors [25] in the following flavors:[26] [27]

Smarties Candy Company also produces "X-treme Sour" and "Tropical" varieties of Smarties[28] as well as "Lollies and Giant Lollies". In October 2015, the company launched Smarties 'n Creme, which are quarter-sized candy tablets with Smarties flavor on one side and creme flavor on the other.

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Marissa Rothkopf Bates . Smarties, a Halloween Favorite, Maintains a Sweet Family Business . . October 29, 2015 . 2015-10-29 .
  2. News: Made in Jersey: Smarties keep rolling out of Union factory. Greg Hatala. NJ.com. 2014-02-11. 2014-05-23.
  3. News: Candy through the ages. Amy Pataki . 27 October 2012. The Toronto Star.
  4. News: Candy Bowl I, the second round: It's time to pick your favorite Halloween candy, again. Ryan White. 11 October 2011. The Oregonian.
  5. Web site: Smarties Ship In Special Packaging And Formulation For Bulk Vending. Nick Montano. Vending Times. 2011-05-20. 2014-05-23. 2014-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20140523231021/http://vendingtimes.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=EB79A487112B48A296B38C81345C8C7F&nm=Vending+Features&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=BF2C697221ED4E58981DB7EBEF914084. dead.
  6. Web site: Rockets candy a Halloween treat with a Toronto history. CBC News. 2013-10-30. 2016-04-14.
  7. Web site: Smarties — 0177217. Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. 13 December 2021.
  8. Web site: See how Smarties candy company carries on its sweet legacy — and takes Halloween off after 9-month prep. Christie Duffy. 2015-10-30. Pix 11. 2016-04-14.
  9. News: Inside the Rockets factory where these quintessential Halloween candies are made. 2015-10-29. The Globe and Mail. 2016-04-14.
  10. Web site: Taking a Tour of the Smarties Candy Factory. Diane Nassy. philzendia. 2012-08-08. 2014-05-23.
  11. Web site: Remember Smarties? The retro candy is thriving. Heather Long. 2015-10-05. CNN. 2016-04-14.
  12. Web site: 2010-07-07. Which candies are vegan?. 2020-11-02. PETA. en-US.
  13. Web site: Smarties Executive, Liz Dee, Talks Compassionate Candy. Maria Mooney. Ecorazzi. 2014-03-11. 2014-05-23. 2014-05-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20140524003652/http://www.ecorazzi.com/2014/03/11/smarties-executive-liz-dee-talks-compassionate-candy/. dead.
  14. Web site: Smarties — a 'recession-proof' candy — turns 70 years old with a brand-new look . Alexis . Christof . October 2, 2019 . Yahoo.com.
  15. Web site: Smarties History . CandyFavorites . 11 April 2024.
  16. Web site: Rockets candy a Halloween treat with a Toronto history . CBC . 11 April 2024.
  17. Web site: Midway Displays Introduces. Candy Industry. 2004-10-01. 2014-05-23.
  18. Web site: Smarties Now In Theater Boxes. National Confectioners Association. 2009-12-14. 2014-05-23.
  19. Web site: Compassionate Candy. Ari Solomon. Mercy for Animals. 2014-03-10. 2014-05-23. 2014-05-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20140523230952/http://www.mfablog.org/2014/03/compassionate-candy.html. dead.
  20. Web site: Smarties, made in NJ . NJ 101.5 . 16 April 2024.
  21. Web site: Jaslow . Ryan . Middle school warns snorting Smarties may lead to nasal maggots .
  22. Web site: Scholastic . 6 October 2016 . Inside a Smarties Factory . live . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/PhDux1hdLOY . 2021-12-12 . YouTube.
  23. Web site: 5 things to know about Smarties, the women-led and family-run candy company celebrating 70 years in business . CNBC . 16 April 2024.
  24. Web site: Smarties Candy Rolls 5 lb bag Assorted flavors. Spangler Flavor. 2014-05-23. 2013-12-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20131212003638/http://www.spanglercandy.com/candy-store/smarties-rolls/smarties-candy-rolls-5lb. dead.
  25. Book: Candy: The Sweet History. Beth Kimmerle. Collectors Press. 2003. 89. 1888054832.
  26. Web site: Get Smarties!. Matters Magazine. Kristen Ryan. Fall 2014. April 13, 2015. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035643/http://digital.turn-page.com/i/398176-fallfoodmatters2014/15. dead.
  27. Web site: Smarties Flavors . Tasting Table . 16 April 2024.
  28. News: Targeting the sweet tooth: creative use of the category's impulse nature can help speed up supermarkets' slowing candy sales. So can getting new products in front of consumers quickly.. Turcsik . Richard . 1 February 2005 . 1094–1088 . 71 . 2.

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