Observed on February 15th, National Gumdrop Day recognizes a favorite candy of many; the gumdrop! On National Gumdrop Day, there is no question as to what to do. Eat gumdrops and eat as many as you want!
- The term “gum drop” first appears in print in 1860 as part of a list of confections — “candies, gum drops, mottoes” — in the Port Townsend, Washington, “North-West.”
- The classic board game, Candy Land, features both a Gumdrop Pass and a Gumdrop#SouthFloridaReporter.com, south Florida news, south Florida reporter, #SFLR, #SWFloridaReporter.com, southwest Florida news, southwest Florida reporter, #SWFLRMountain.
- Credit for the modern gumdrop goes to chemist and candy manufacturer Percy S. Truesdell. According to articles after his death in 1948, Truesdell took the once hard, poorly flavored glob of sugar and turned it into the smooth, chewy delight we enjoy today. While at the University of Ohio, the chemist altered the consistency of the of the candy by experimenting with the amount of starch used.
- He later worked for the Snyder-Chafee Company until 1915. In 1916, Truesdell founded and incorporated the P.S. Truesdell Candy Manufacturing Company. At his death, he became known as the Gumdrop King.
- The NASA Apollo Command modules were nicknamed “Gumdrops” because of it’s conical shape.
- Branch’s Candy holds the world record for largest gumdrop which weighted in a little larger than 10 lbs. If you had eaten it you would have consumed 15,127 calories.
- Candy accounts for only 6% of the added sugar in the American diet. Soft drinks and juice account for 46%.
- Candy became widely available only 130 years ago. Until then, people would make their own fudge or caramel at home.
- Candy is a health scapegoat – 100 years ago, doctors blamed candy for the spread of polio. In the mid to late 20th century it was blamed for tooth decay. Now it is blamed for obesity.
- About 65 percent of American candy brands have been around for more than 50 years.
- A lollipop, which was invented by George Smith in 1908, was named after Lolly Pop, a racing horse.
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