Who doesn't love the colourful, chocolatey goodness of M&M's? These bite-sized treats have been delighting sweet tooths around the world for decades.
But beneath their candy shells and chocolate centres lies a fascinating history filled with surprising stories and clever innovations.
Ready for some sweet trivia that will make your next handful of M&M's even more enjoyable?
1. Born In The Battlefield
M&M's were created specifically for soldiers during World War II. The heat-resistant candy shell prevented the chocolate from melting in tropical climates, making them perfect for military ration packs. Mars introduced them in 1941, and they quickly became a favourite among troops stationed in warm regions.
When soldiers returned home, they brought their love for these colourful treats with them. The candy's popularity exploded in the post-war years, transitioning from military provision to household staple. The original slogan was "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand" – a direct reference to their practical wartime purpose.
2. Inspired By A Sweet Discovery In Spain
The origins of M&M’s trace back to the 1930s, when Forrest Mars travelled to Europe to start his own confectionery venture.
While visiting southern Spain, he noticed soldiers snacking on chocolate coated in hard sugar shells – a clever solution to stop the sweets from melting in the heat.
This observation sparked the creation of M&M’s, along with the iconic slogan: “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.” Interestingly, Britain’s Smarties may have also been influenced by the same Spanish treat.
3. The Secret Meaning Of 'M&M'
Contrary to popular myths, M&M stands for 'Mars & Murrie' – the surnames of the candy's founders. Forrest Mars Sr. (son of the Mars Company founder) partnered with Bruce Murrie (son of Hershey's president) to create the iconic sweet. Their partnership gave Mars access to Hershey's chocolate supply during WWII rationing.
The business relationship didn't last long, though. Mars bought out Murrie's 20% stake after the war ended. Many people incorrectly guess that the Ms stand for 'Mars & Mars' or even 'Mickey & Minnie'. The simple ampersand connecting two surnames created one of the world's most recognisable brand names.
4. The Colour That Disappeared
Red M&M's completely vanished from packets between 1976 and 1987. This wasn't a marketing stunt – it was due to public concern about a food dye called Red No. 2, which was banned by the FDA after being linked to health issues. Though M&M's actually used a different dye (Red No. 40), Mars removed red sweets anyway to avoid consumer confusion.
For over a decade, packets contained no red pieces whatsoever. Mars eventually reintroduced red M&M's after overwhelming public demand. The temporary disappearance created such nostalgia that when red M&M's returned, sales actually increased – proof that sometimes absence really does make the heart grow fonder!
5. Space Travellers
M&M's have been zooming through space since the 1980s. NASA specifically requested these sweets for astronaut meals because they're easy to eat in zero gravity without creating crumbs or mess. The first space shuttle mission in 1981 included M&M's, though they were called 'candy-coated chocolates' since NASA avoids brand names.
Astronauts report that M&M's behave rather oddly in space – they float around in perfect formation like tiny colourful planets! The heat-resistant shell makes them practical for space travel, while their small size and neat packaging prevent any chocolate disasters among sensitive equipment. They remain a favourite space snack to this day.
6. The Colour That Causes Confusion
The tan M&M was one of the original colors when the candy launched in the 1940s. It remained in the standard mix for decades until 1995, when Mars held a public vote to choose a replacement color.
Blue won, and tan was permanently removed. Many people mistakenly remember tan as a shade of brown, leading to confusion about the candy’s color history.
Because tan appeared similar to both brown and orange under certain lighting, some believe it lacked the vibrancy of the other colors — possibly influencing its removal.
7. M&M’s Got Its Start In New Jersey
The original M&M’s factory was established in Newark, New Jersey, when M&M’s Limited first launched.
As demand grew, production moved to Hackettstown in 1958 – where it still operates today. This site remains one of the largest M&M’s manufacturing facilities in North America.
8. M&M’s Originally Came In Cardboard Tubes
When M&M’s first hit the market, they weren’t sold in the familiar rectangular packets we know today. Instead, they came in brown cardboard tubes with a pop-off lid.
The clever design let you pour out just the right amount into your hand, then reseal the tube if you wanted to save some for later. This packaging lasted until 1948, when M&M’s switched to the now-iconic brown paper bags.
9. You’ll Never Find A Wonky M&M
Forrest Mars was famously obsessed with quality. If he spotted even a single M&M with an off-centre ‘m’, he didn’t hesitate to call up sales reps – sometimes in the middle of the night – to recall entire batches.
His standards didn’t stop there: the cleanliness inside a Mars factory was said to surpass that of the average kitchen sink, all to ensure every M&M was flawless.
10. Peanut M&M’s Were Introduced In 1954
Peanut M&M’s were introduced in 1954 as a delicious variation of the original M&M’s candy. Created to offer a crunchy contrast to the classic milk chocolate version, these treats feature a whole peanut covered in a layer of milk chocolate and a colorful candy shell.
They quickly became a fan favorite, combining the satisfying crunch of the peanut with the creamy sweetness of the chocolate, making them a staple in the M&M’s lineup ever since.
11. Van Halen's Famous M&M Clause
Rock band Van Halen famously included a bizarre requirement in their concert contracts: a bowl of M&M's with all brown ones removed. Contrary to seeming like rock star extravagance, this odd request served a clever purpose. It was a test to see if venue managers had thoroughly read their technical requirements.
Lead singer David Lee Roth explained that if they spotted brown M&M's, they'd immediately check the entire stage setup for safety issues. Their concerts had complex technical requirements, and this was an easy way to identify venues that might cut corners on important safety specifications.
The M&M clause became legendary in the music industry, with many artists later adopting similar 'canary in the coal mine' contract items.
12. M&M’s Became The Official Snack Of The 1984 Olympics
Aiming for global recognition, M&M’s secured its place as the official snack of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
At a time when Snickers was known as Marathon in the UK, the Olympics needed a brand that had international appeal.
With this partnership, M&M’s gained worldwide exposure and expanded its reach into regions like Asia Pacific, Australia, Europe, and Russia.
13. M&M’s Characters Were Created In The 1990s To Boost Sales
In the 1990s, M&M’s faced a decline in sales and needed a strategy to revive interest. The company hired the ad agency BBDO with a modest budget to turn things around.
Their solution? Transforming the candies into characters with unique personalities, voiced by comedians, and launching a series of star-studded commercials.
Red was sarcastic, Yellow was the goofy one, Blue was cool, Green was flirtatious, and Orange was neurotic. The campaign resonated with audiences, and America quickly embraced these new M&M’s personalities.
14. The Secret Recipe Changes
The M&M recipe has changed several times without most consumers noticing. In 1995, Mars switched from Hershey's chocolate to their own formula, slightly altering the taste. More significantly, in 2007, they changed from artificial to natural colours in response to health concerns about food dyes.
The blue M&M underwent the most dramatic transformation, switching from brilliant blue 1 (a synthetic dye) to a natural blue derived from spirulina, a type of algae. Some fans claim they can taste the difference between vintage and modern M&M's, particularly with the blue ones.
Mars continues to refine their recipes, balancing consumer demand for natural ingredients with maintaining the classic taste people expect.
15. The Colour That Took The Spotlight
In 1995, Mars launched a global campaign inviting the public to vote for a new M&M’s colour to replace tan. Blue won by a landslide, beating out pink and purple, and officially joined the lineup. The campaign generated massive buzz, with over 10 million people participating, making it one of Mars' most successful promotional efforts at the time.
While some speculate that the company had already favoured blue before the vote, this has never been officially confirmed. What’s clear is that the campaign helped M&M’s stay relevant and visually appealing to a new generation of consumers.
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