M&M's (stylized as m&m's) are color-varied sugar-coated dragée
chocolate confectionery, each of which has the letter "m" printed in
lower case in white on one side, consisting of a candy shell
surrounding a filling which varies depending upon the variety of
M&M's. The original candy has a semi-sweet chocolate filling which,
upon introduction of other variations, was branded as the "plain,
normal" variety. Peanut M&M's, which feature a peanut coated in milk
chocolate, and finally a candy shell, were the first variation to be
introduced, and they remain a regular variety. Numerous other
variations have been introduced, some of which are regular widespread
varieties (peanut butter, almond, pretzel, crispy, dark chocolate, and
caramel) while others are limited in duration or geographic
availability. M&M's are the flagship product of the Mars Wrigley
Confectionery division of Mars, Incorporated.
The candy originated in
the United States in 1941, and M&M's have been sold in over 100
countries since 2003. They are produced in different colors, some of
which have changed over the years. The candy-coated chocolate concept
was copied by Forrest Mars Sr. from Smarties, which he had encountered
during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939). The sugar coating made it
possible to carry chocolate in warm climates without it melting. The
company's longest-lasting slogan reflects this: "the milk chocolate
that melts in your mouth, not in your hand."
A traditional milk
chocolate M&M weighs about 0.91 grams / 0.032 ounces and has about 4.7
calories (kcal) of food energy (1.7 kcal from fat). Despite common
belief, each colored M&M does not have a different flavor and all
possess the same chocolate taste.
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