Mental Floss

CANDY

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If you've ever eaten a chocolate bar, you've probably eaten a Kit Kat. The four-fingered bar is one of the world's most popular treats and in 2014 was named the "most influential" candy bar of all time by TIME Magazine.

James Hunt








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Sugar plums didn't originally contain plums, and their name once doubled as a not-so-sweet euphemism.

Michele Debczak












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Trick-or-treating for candy on Halloween only became common a few decades ago, but the tradition's roots stretch back to ancient pagan celebrations.

Michele Debczak




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The adult novelty item has a surprisingly rich history involving organized crime, food science, and the difficulties in patenting the name "Candypants."

Jake Rossen
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The popular board game, which has been a household staple for 70 years, was originally conceived in the polio wing of a hospital.

Jake Rossen