Jason EganHow do they print the "m's" on the M&M's chocolates?
September 18th 2006 00:13
Mmmmmm....chocolate.
The concept of M&M’s was born during the Spanish Civil War. Forrest Mars Snr. (founder of Mars Inc.) came across soldiers in Spain eating pellets of chocolate coated with hard sugar - preventing the goodness inside from melting beforehand. Inspired by this, Mars created the recipe for M&M’s candies. First sold in 1941, the chocolate has fast become a household name ever since.
Spin-offs (of the candy) included the Peanut, Crispy and Minis ranges – the latter of which I was enjoying the other day! The little “m’s” were not printed on the candies until 1950. They were originally black in colour, but soon changed to white.
So how do they print those “m’s”? As explained by the company itself, the “m’s” are printed using a process close to offset printing, using vegetable dye as the ink. Little blank pellets of candy are passed along a conveyor belt with rows of indentations on it – holding them in position – for printing.
Anatomy of a Peanut M&M.
This is categorically tougher with the peanut range, as nuts come in variable shapes and sizes. Compensation of this shortcoming is done by adjusting the “creamy milk chocolate” layer (see diagram) to a standard dimension, making each candy – more or less – similarly sized.
I always thought some ‘Oompa Loompas’ wrote the “m’s” on the candies. Guess that theory will now be laid to rest...
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Comment by Anonymous
Teri
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Is this a subliminal ad for m & m's? cu soon. You done well son, You done real good!
Comment by m*STAR
Although Mr. MARS, if you are reading this - I could do with some extra chocolates
Comment by katyzzz
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get on board. I'm so proud o' ya!, you know that son.
k.....subliminal mum or dad, whatever!