From: lyxuan@sscvx1.ssc.gov
Subject: Re: [MISC] M&M CANDIES LOVERS..ANSWERS..
Organization: Superconducting Super Collider Laboratory
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 20:58:37 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.130440.1@sscvx1.ssc.gov>, lyxuan@sscvx1.ssc.gov writes:
> Hello Candies Lovers,
> 
> As far back as can be recalled, in my childhood, I have always loved 
> candies. And I couldn't imagined anyone who'd lived and not have loved 
> candies. One of the kind of candies I loved most was M&M's. I loved those 
> plain chocolate M&M's the most! Anyway, I loved them so much that I did 
> a little bit of research into the "How" of M&M's.....

Hello Friends!

The moment you've been waiting for! 

> 
> I have the answers to the following questions. I wanted to see what 
> the general audience's answers would be.  Cheers! Yumm..Yumm...
> 
> So here goes!
> 
> 1. How do they print the "M&M" on M&M's chocolate candies?

I have received some interesting answers for this question! But I, especially,
liked the "history of the world" answer the the most! ;-)

Here I have the "serious" answer!

The process is proprietary! The "M&M" insignia separates the Mars product from
present and future knock-offs, so the company is understandably sensitve about
guarding its technological secrets. Mars did reveal, however, that the process
is similar to offset printing, from which one could infer that the stamper 
does not strike the sugar coating of the candy directly. Many pill
manufacturers print their logos with a similar offset technique.

> 
> 2. Why are their no seams on M&M's?

No! This has nothing to do with sewing machine! ;-)

M&M's are coated by a process called "panning". After the individual pieces of
chocolate are assembled, they are placed in a revolving pan that looks like a
clothes dryer. As they rotate, the chocolates are sprayed with colored sugar.
Cool air is blown into the pan to harden the coating. After evaporation, an
even layer of dry shell is formed. The process is repeated several times to
achieve the thickness that Mars desires. No seam shows because the coating is
uniform and no cutting or binding of any kind was neccessary to form the shell.

> 
> 3. What does M&M stand for?

Me and My candies???

Two names, Mars and Murrie, the head honchos at M&M Candies in the early 1940s.

> 
> 4. Why are there more brown M&M's than any other color?
> 5. How do they determine the ratio colors?

I will answer 4 and 5 together....

M&M/Mars conducts market research to answerprecisely these type of questions.
Consumers have shown a consistent preference for brown M&M's, so they
predominate.

> 
> 6. Why did they take away red M&M's?
> 7. Why have they put the red M&M's back recently?

Again I will answer 6 and 7 together....

Red M&M's were victims of the Red Dye No. 2 scare, and were dropped in 1976.
Although Mars didn't actually use Red Dye No. 2 to color the red M&M's, the
company was understandably concerned that the public might be frightend. Once
it decided that the consumers not only would accept the red M&M's again, but
would welcome them back, Mars, Inc. complied.

Although many people know that red M&M's were dropped and then brought back,
few realized that the mix of colors in plain M&M's is diffrent from the peanut
version.

> 
> 8. What are the color percentages in plain M&M's? 
>    and in peanut M&M's?

--------------------------------------------------------

These figure will hold true 99% time.

                      plain M&M's      peanut M&M's 
> 
> 	Brown?             30              30
> 	Yellow?            20              20
> 	Red?               20              20
> 	Orange?            10              10
> 	Green?             10              20
> 	Tan?               10               0
> 

Does anyone know how many plain M&M's are in an individual bag?

and how many peanut M&M's are in an individual bag?

I think that some of SCV netters will gain weight over the weekend!
Cheer! YummnYummn!!  

> There are many mores, but I just want to start with a 
> few! ;-)
> 
> Happy pondering!!! If anyone is interest in knowing the 
> answers to these questions, you can email me. If not I 
> will post them on Friday! Happy eating! Cheers! YummYumm!
> 
> HandsomeStranger.....
> 
> The candy man...Who can take the sunshine.. ;-)
> 
> P.S. Just for kicks. Last one for the road! Why do clocks run clockwise?
                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Based on the "sun dial" invented by the Greeks.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the sun dial rotates clockwise as the sun travel
across the sky. Anyone ever noticed how the water in the sink always empty
in a clockwise motion?

Well, of course, it would be opposite in the Southern Hemisphere!
But not with clocks! Since the invention was made by the people in the 
Northern Hemisphere, the people in the Southern Hemisphere were forced to
accept. Life ain't fair, isn't it??? ;-)

Occasionally, I still see some clocks runs counterclockwise! ;-) You might
be able to find these in some specialty stores, that's if you're inclined!


I hope this has been enjoyable and informative to all!

HandsomeStranger............

> 
> m&m..m&m..m&m..m&m..m&m..m&m..mm&m..m&m..mm&m..m&m..mm&m..m&m..mm&m..m&m..m
>