Candy Dish Blog

So I’ve never been to Vegas (sad, I know), but I can say that when I think of “fabulous Las Vegas,” I think of lights, casinos, the strip, parties, and monstrous hotels...just to name a few things. I certainly don't think: candy (don’t tell my boss!).

But M&M’s are bringing sweets to the forefront at their M&M’s World store in Sin City, with their brand new in-store personalization feature.

How cool is that?

While you can personalize M&M’s online already, this is the only place in the world that you can walk in, push a few buttons, and have candies pop out of a machine that are created to your specific liking – color, design, and text. What’s even more novel about this idea…the designs are all “Vegas” themed. So whether you want to put some spades on those red M&M’s to commemorate all that money you lost…err saved, at the tables – or you want to put some wedding bells on some light purple M&M’s to celebrate that quickie…I mean planned out, wedding that you just took part in, you can find it all at M&M world.

Naturally, this new personalization feature had to debut in a flashy, sensational fashion – it is Vegas we’re talking about here. Some guy spent around 150 hours gluing 50,000 M&M’s together to replicate the “Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Check it out. And be sure, as I will when I one day get there, to make this a sweet stop during your stay in Sin City.

Welcome to Las Vegas Sign by Roadsidepictures

Yesterday the Center for Science in the Public Interest continued its campaign against food dyes or colors by issuing a new report that suggests food dyes “pose risks of cancer, hyperactivity in children, and allergies.” Although the report is 58 pages long it does not present any new previously un-reviewed scientific research.  CSPI itself notes that the cancer link is tenuous at best. 

The fact is that colors are an important component of confections providing distinguishing characteristics, flavor recognition and appeal.  All certified colors used in food production in the U.S. meet stringent FDA requirements and are safe for human consumption.  For more information, read this FDA brochure on “food ingredients and color” safety.

CSPI’s goal appears to be to create alarm among consumers thus bringing public pressure to bear, in an attempt to force the Food and Drug Administration to review their position that food colors (and indeed other ingredients in food) are safe. 

All food additives, like colors, are carefully regulated by FDA and various international organizations to ensure that foods are safe to eat and are accurately labeled. In fact today, food and color additives are more strictly studied, regulated and monitored than at any other time in history.

It’s always smart to understand what ingredients are used in the food products you eat and to be informed about your health, and it’s good to know that the some of the top scientists in the world at FDA are helping us learn what is safe and good to eat.

Colour Wheel by Tiny_Packages

Today is the last day we'll be previewing some of products that will be on display for the very first time at the SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO. At the end of today we'll have told you about at least 88 products - 88 were called out in bullet points, but some of the bullet points featured more than one product.

I hope you remember a few of them because we'll be asking you about them next week for our contest. Luckily for you, the posts aren't going anywhere.

Today's Friday Five is a list of the last five, well actually seven, products we're featuring.

Main Mints:

• Hershey - New mints from Hershey's, Ice Breakers provides the ultimate breath freshening experience through a great taste sensation, powerful cooling, and long lasting freshening.
• Big Sky Brands - Sunkist Citrus Burst delivers authentically refreshing Sunkist citrus fruit flavors in the form of a convenient, sugar free mint. The mouthwatering flavors were inspired by Sunkist's specialty citrus varietals including Valencia orange, ruby red grapefruit, eureka lemon and key lime. The proprietary blend of ingredients also features a light cooling effect, resulting in a refreshing experience.
• Ferrero U.S.A- For serious refreshment try Tic Tac Powermint, a unique, long lasting strong mint flavor available in the familiar and convenient packaging of Tic Tac.

Fabulous Fruits:

• Wrigley - Skittles introduces Skittles Fizzl'd Fruits, a new bite-sized chewy candy that fizzes in your mouth to deliver a tongue-tingling sensation! Each pack of Skittles Fizzl'd Fruits contains fizzling fun for your mouth in five assorted berry flavors: Strawberry, Berry Punch, Melon Berry, Wild Cherry and Raspberry.
• NECCO - Dazzled Tart Sweetheartsare the "Sparkliest, Tart-Sweetest Candy Ever" featuring sour flavors like sour apple, pink lemonade, watermelon, wild berry, extreme tangerine and blue raspberry. Fun emoticons with high heel shoes, crowns and lips combined with expressions like "Diva" and "LOL" make this a perfect, tasty treat for your texting tween.
• Ford Gum & Machine Co. - Delicious bubble gum that is shaped & flavored like the super popular and fruity Mike and Ike candy. Find your favorite flavor in the mix and have fun chewing. Also available as Hot Tamales Chewing Gum.
• Foreign Candy Co. - Don't be worried about the venom in the Hissee Fit Snake Spray - it's actually quite sweet! Each snake shaped bottle is a fun candy spray in three spittin' flavors - cherry, green apple and blue raspberry.

Next up? Get ready for our contest annoucement. Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! See you next week.

Day25_Candy by ocularinvasion

We're nearing the end of new product updates - just one more before we announce our big contest. Here are some more products that will be seen at the SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO for the very first time this year.

Two Tone Tastes:

• Wrigley - Orbit gum invites consumers to taste the brand's latest flavor offering, Orbit Lime Melon, a blend of lightly sweet melon with a hint of lime. As the brand's 17th flavor and newest fruit flavor creation, Orbit Lime Melon joins a vast line-up of innovative flavors known to ‘clean-up' dirty mouths.
• Cadbury - Stride Shift is the first-ever flavor changing gum designed for those who consistently crave new and interesting experiences. The flavor changing technology of new Stride Shift allows the chewer to experience an unbelievably unique change in flavor mid-chew-from berry-to-mint and citrus-to-mint.
• Hershey- Jolly Rancher Awesome Twosome Chews offer two flavors in one candy - including chewy watermelon wrapped around a green apple center and cherry wrapped around an soft orange center.

Au' Naturale:

• Nutorious- Available in five different taste-bud pleasing varieties, these nuts are all natural, low sodium, and GMO-free, and contain no trans fats or preservatives. Cherry Vanilla Va-voomis a blend of walnuts, whole almonds and pecan halves with dried Montmorency cherries in a sweet vanilla confection. Cranberry Orango Tango is a blend of walnuts, whole almonds and pecan halves with dried cranberries in a refreshing orange confection. Ooo La La Original is a blend of walnuts, whole almonds and pecan halves in a buttery, sweet confection. First Time Exhibitor.
• NECCO - With new all natural formulations, Chocolate NECCO Waferscome in four delicious flavors - milk, dark, mocha and white chocolate - and have no artificial flavors or fat. Joining the classic wafers in going au' naturale, is another classic American candy, Clark Bar.
• Cornfields - When you try Skinny Mini'svegetable and potato sticks in great flavors like garden veggie, Maui wowie, and salt and vinegar, you'll be so blown away by the taste and crunch that you won't even miss the 30 percent less fat than other similar treats. Just 100 calories per bag! First Time Exhibitor

Oh Lolli, Lollipop:

• Koko's Confectionery - ICEE Fizzing Lollipopsare delicious hard candy lollipops that deliver an explosion of fizz from the center. Available in cool ICEE flavors including blue raspberry, cherry, green apple, and lemonade.
• Sconza Candy - Long lasting fun! The Bruiser is a quarter pound jawbreaker on a stick and takes a serious licking. Each jawbreaker layer features a different color and fruit flavor for hours and hours of candy fun.
• Imaginings 3 Inc.- One scoop or two? There's no need to choose and you won't even have to worry about ice melt with Ice Cream Lollipops, delicious lollipops in your favorite ice cream flavors of mint chocolate chip, banana split and rainbow sherbet.

Yum! I'm hungry just thinking about these new products and they are all in my office right now. Should I sample, or save everything for our loyal readers? Hmmm  ...

No Sugar Sweets:

• Albanese - These pretty little butterflies might seem too sweet to eat, but the sugar-free version of these Gummi Butterflies taste too good not to try. With bold colors and delicious flavors your heart will be set aflutter.
• Sorbee - Crystal Light Sugar Free Chewy Candies have 1/3 fewer calories and come in four delicious fruit flavors - strawberry, lemon, orange and raspberry.
• Wrigley - The gum that stimulates your senses introduces 5 REACT - two sleek black stick-style gums offering either a unique mint or unique fruit flavor experience. These sugar-free gums will give you the mouth-freshening you're looking for and long-lasting flavor you want.
• Just Born - Brighten up your holiday celebrations with PEEPS Sugar-Free Peppermint Stars.

Chocolate-Covered Creations:

• Albanese - Tasty Milk Chocolate Gummi Bears are fruity gummies available in six fantastic flavors drenched in milk chocolate. Also available are Double Dipped Chocolate Peanuts, fresh roasted jumbo peanuts double dipped in decadent dark chocolate.
• MARS Chocolate - M&M'S Pretzel Chocolate Candies feature a crunchy, salted pretzel center covered in delicious M&M'S brand milk chocolate and coated in a colorful candy shell. It's a fun new way to combine sweet and salty in every bite size piece.
• Nestle - The premium, whole dried cherries used for Cherry RAISINETS are sourced from one of the premier cherry growing regions in Michigan. These Montmorency Tart Cherries are drenched in rich NESTLE Dark Chocolate, creating a mouthwatering combination that is both sweet and creamy while also juicy and tangy.
• Just Born - The only thing that will make a Peep lover happier than a freshly made holiday Peep is the chocolate-covered version. New for Halloween 2010 are Chocolate-Covered Pumpkin Peeps in marvelous milk and delightful dark chocolate.

International Delights:

• Konya Seker - Delicious and fun chocolate bars unlike anything you've tried in the U.S., Torku Majestic bars from Turkey are available in five chocolatey flavors - orange, strawberry, coconut, banana and tutti fruitti. Also available are the Torku Tablets - chocolate with hazelnuts or pistachios; Lindo Tablets filled with hazelnut cream, coconut cream or caramels; and Nougamel, a chocolate coated nougat bar with caramel and peanuts.
• Chicago Importing Company - A Swedish delight, Cloetta Kex Wafer Bars are crispy wafers surrounded and filled with delicious milk chocolate. From Germany, Viba Classic Nougat is a soft and chewy nougat made with only the finest hazelnut praline.

FUNctional:

• Vitaball - Recharge, revitalize and refresh with an assortment of vitamingum. Each sugar-free pack equals the nutrition available in two 20-oz. bottles of nutrient-enhanced water. Available as DEFENSE - Peppermint Ice with extra Vitamin C, antioxidant Vitamins A and E, B-Vitamins, Calcium and Vitamin D; TRACTION 50 - Grape Pomegranate with 50% RDV of antioxidants, B-Vitamins and Vitamin D; and COMPLETE - Raspberry Lemonade with antioxidants, B-Vitamins, Calcium, Vitamin D and other minerals.
• Cadbury - Dentyne, a leading breath freshening brand, introduces Dentyne Pure, the first in the gum category with NeutraFresh - an exclusive ingredient that neutralizes bad breath odors. Dentyne Pure gum doesn't just mask bad breath; it purifies breath deliciously - anytime, anywhere!

We've been giving Candy Dish Blog readers a preview of exciting new products that will debut at the 2010 SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO - all leading up to the announcement of a contest in a couple of days. As you read through the reviews, try to remember what sounds the best to you.

Fresh-n-Fruity:

• Wrigley - Just in time for your summer fun, Starburst will introduce Summer Fun Fruits, a new assortment of four juicy summer flavors. The mouthwatering new flavor varieties include Cherry Splash, Strawberry Watermelon, Kiwi Banana and Lemon-Limeade.
• Euro-American Brands - Anthon Berg Creamy Blackcurrant Chocolates are a Danish delight. Decadently rich chocolate surrounds the tart-but-sweet blackcurrant center.
• Morinaga - Japan's #1 selling soft candy, HI-CHEW, is a fruity taste sensation now available in the U.S. Tickle your palate with the robust flavors of strawberry, green apple, mango, orange, melon and the all new banana. First Time Exhibitor
• Annie's Inc.- Organic Berry Patch Bunny Fruit Snacks are a delicious mix of strawberry, cherry and raspberry flavored bunnies. Certified organic and brought to you by Annie's Organics, these bunny-shaped fruit snacks are made with real fruit juice and packed with 100% Daily Value of Vitamin C. First Time Exhibitor
• Wrigley - Get swept away by the tropical fruit flavors of great tasting, long lasting Extra Fruit Sensations Sweet Tropicalgum. This sugar-free sensation also comes in comes in five other long-lasting fruit flavors: strawberry banana, berry pearadise, sweet watermelon, mango smoothie and berry smoothie.
• Nestle- Straight out of Wonka's garden Squishy Sploshberriesis a juice-filled gummy candy in unique berry shapes and flavors- goji berry, cloudberry and blueberry. Whipped Wingers is an aerated/fluffy gummy,the first of its kind on the market. The fun, winged shapes come in watermelon, orange, pineapple and tropical punch flavors. Both varieties are made with 25% real fruit juice and all natural ingredients.
• Foreign Candy Company - Lots of Frutti Chews have big flavor but will be light on your wallet. The four flavors - cherry, strawberry, green apple and blue raspberry - are packed 11 bars per package and retail for only $1.

Cartoon Cuteness:

• The Foreign Candy Company - Caution: Extreme Sour Ahead! Dare Devils Extreme Sour Candy has a sour powder outside and a secret sour center! Each bag includes our superheroes - Strawberry, Cherry, Blue Raspberry and Green Apple - along with their super-sour nemesis, Death Drool.
• PEZ -Leave it to PEZ to immortalize these popular cartoons with their very own dispensers. Hello Kitty Pez will feature Hello Kitty herself along with pals Chococat and My Melody. Thomas the Train Pez features Thomas the Tank and friends James the Red Engine and Percy the Small Engine.
• Boston America - Hello Kitty is a big star in the candy aisle as Boston America introduces Hello Kitty Lucky Stars, a tin shaped like a Chinese food takeout box filled with red and white star candy. Also available - Nintendo Mushroom Tins, a mushroom-shaped tin featuring sour cherry and sour green apple candies.

Super Sour

• Imaginings 3 Inc. - These kernels taste more sour than salty. Sour Gummy Popcorn is a sour-sanded gummy that's been aerated to feel more like popcorn - light and airy. Available in assorted fruit flavors of green apple, strawberry and watermelon.
• Dorval Trading - With colors derived from fruit and plant extracts, there's a lot to love about Sour Power Sortz- fruity candy straws in flavors like Apple / Peach, Raspberry / Grape and Tutti Fruitti.
• Schuster Products - You'll have plenty of chances to pucker up as you snack on the three feet of sour-coated swirled bubble gum offered by Sour Face Twisters Ginormous Silly Swirl Bubble Gum Stik. 
• Candy Dynamics - Toxic Waste Short Circuits Bubble Gum is sure to make sour candy and gum lovers pucker with delight. Presented in bite sized gum pieces, each is filled with ultra sour powder inner core and offers more than twenty pieces of delicious bubble gum in each individual package; kids will be struck by the intense flavor when they reach the shockingly sour core.

Lots ‘o Licorice:

• Goetze's Candy - A licorice treat that hits the bull's eye! Goetze's Gourmet Licorice Caramel Creams are unique combination of licorice caramel wrapped around a rich creamy center. These treats are flavored with natural licorice extract and fortified with calcium and fiber. Also available as Double Chocolate Caramel Creams.
• American Licorice Company - An extension of Red Vines Original Twists, Grape Vines feature the same iconic twist in eye-catching purple with a fun and fruity grape flavor. You'll think these twists taste GRAPE!
• Gerrit J. Verburg - Proving that everything old is new again, Broadway Rolls make their grand re-entrance on the American candy scene. Last scene on U.S. shelves in the 1960s, these red and black licorice rolls are fun to unroll and enjoy.
• Foreign Candy Company - Be creative and crafty with Rips Whips. Four fruity flavors and four colors of long licorice whips are perfect for braiding, knotting, and making all kinds of fun crafts that are also delicious to eat.

So ... any favorites yet?

Fruit Slices by photobunny

Happy Monday!  Here are a few more candy and snack products (or products featured by first-time exhibitors) launching at the SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO for you to think about as you stare down the long week ahead. Read carefully and remember the items that you like the sound of best because we'll be asking you to tell us about them when we launch our contest in a few days. Check back for more details.

Cookie Craze:

• Lance - Three popular varieties of Lance cookies now available in convenient four-cookie packages. Nekot is a unique name for a unique item featuring the subtle sweetness of graham crackers cookies with a delicious peanut butter filling. The popular Choc-o-Lunch and Van-o-Lunch are also available in four packs. First Time Exhibitor
• Wolfgang - Indulge yourself with Wolfgang's new Raspberry-filled Truffle Cookies, a deep dark chocolate raspberry-filled truffle perched on top of a crisp butter cookie.
• Maxim Manufacturing - Transport yourself to your own tropical paradise over afternoon tea. Bora Bay Crisps are thin sugar sprinkled cookies available in coconut, lemon and banana. First Time Exhibitor
• YZ Enterprises - These extraordinary gourmet treats are created from a secret family recipe passed down from generation to generation. Almondinabrand biscuits are unique - a gourmet cookie, health food and snack. Now you can enjoy Almondina just as Grandma Dina made in her own kitchen. First Time Exhibitor (Almondina / YZ Enterprises Inc. , Booth 1357)

It's 5 O'clock Somewhere:

• Jelly Belly Candy - Jelly Belly tips its hat to the classic cocktail with Jelly Belly Cocktail Classics. Three new flavors, mojito, pomegranate cosmopolitan, and peach bellini,join current cocktail flavors of pina colada, strawberry daiquiri and margarita. Say cheers to this non-alcoholic collection of flavors.
• Thanasi Foods - Meat lovers will sink their teeth into Jim Beam® Bourbon Glaze Steak Strips, made with genuine Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon and premium cut steak strips. The Steak Strips snacks are a savory blend of Kentucky spirited flavor and hardwood smoked perfection. Tender and slow-cooked, this new steak snack delivers a high-quality and tasty bite.
• Primose Candy - Settle into a tropical vacation state of mind as you enjoy a five-flavor mix of Cocktail Taffy. Which taffy will be your favorite - margarita, rum n' cola, mojito, pina colada, or strawberry daiquiri?

Let's Go to the Movies:

• NECCO - Are you on Team Edward or Team Jacob? You'll love New Moon Sweethearts Fire and Icecandies. Fire candies like "Hotter than Apple Pie" and "Steamy Chocolate" are intensely hot - just like Jacob Black. Ice Sweethearts are available in "Raspberry Freezeout" and "Lime FrostBite" and are intensely cool - very much like Edward Cullen.
• Imaginings 3 Inc. - Kids who are crazy for Cars (the Disney movie that is) will love Mater Teeth Pops. The lip pops feature Mater's big, crazy teeth on one side and one of three flavors of lollipops on the other - wild blue raspberry, extreme green apple and watermelon cooler.
• PEZ - Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Rex join the impressive list of Pez character dispensers in anticipation of the 2010 release of Toy Story 3. Collect all three or choose your favorite.

Lighter Than Air:

• Bloomsberry - Distinctly flavored and deliciously different. Bubble Chocolate reliably delivers a mouth-watering sensation that tickles the taste buds. Its unique light and airy texture promises a consistent balance of smooth, all natural, premium chocolate.
• MARS Chocolate - The delectable 3 MUSKETEERS Truffle Crisp Bar is a tantalizing truffle sitting on a subtle airy crisp layer of meringue enrobed in velvety chocolate. Truffle Crisp is available in convenient two-piece single-serve packs.
• Sorbee International - With just 90 calories and 3 grams of fat, the Dream Bar is just that! This reduced fat, reduced calorie chocolate bar contains caramel and crispy nougat covered in milk chocolate.

Lemon Drop Cocktail by Valerie Everett

Michelle Obama is set to discuss her initiative to combat childhood obesity. Susan wrote about this last week. We are committed to seeing our nation's future as healthy and sustainable with healthy, happy children who learn to make sensible choices that carry on into adulthood. To quote Susan:

NCA takes seriously the First Lady’s interest in healthy children. We hope the emphasis will be on positive incentives to create healthy lifestyles including encouraging physical activity, wonderful inspiring incentives to encourage increased consumption of tasty fruits and vegetables and initiatives to discourage overconsumption of foods and beverages.

We also hope that the First Lady and other food policy leaders will continue to acknowledge that there is a place for small pleasures, like candy, in the lives of children and adults. As most diet programs acknowledge it’s the little pleasures that help us achieve lasting change and good health.

Update: See this article on ABC's Good Morning America.

Watch the speech, to be broadcast at noon today:

Update: Broadcast removed after it was over.