Did you know this about Candy and vegetarianism?

A heap of HARIBO gummy bears

This post is in honor of National Candy Day which is celebrated on November 4th every year in the United States. We found a few interesting facts we wanted to share with our candy loving readers.

Some candy, including marshmallows and gummi bears, contain gelatin derived from animal collagen, a protein found in skin and bones, and is thus avoided by vegetarians and vegans. "Kosher gelatin" is also unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans, as it is derived from fish bones. Other substances, such as agar, pectin, starch and gum arabic may also be used as setting and gelling agents, and can be used in place of gelatin.

Other ingredients commonly found in candy that are not suitable for vegetarian or vegan diets include carmine, a red dye made from cochineal beetles, and confectioner's glaze, which may contain wings or other insect parts. wikipedia
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Wow right!?

Shelf Life Of Candy

photo by Elisa Azzali

Happy Candy Day everyone! Since we celebrate candy day every November 4th I thought I would post a bit of shelf life information. 

Because of its high sugar concentration, bacteria is not usually able to grow in candy. As a result, the shelf life of candy is longer than for many foods. Most candies can be safely stored in their original packaging at room temperature in a dry, dark cupboard for months or years. As a rule, the softer the candy or the damper the storage area, the sooner it goes stale.

Shelf life considerations with most candies are focused on appearance, taste, and texture, rather than about the potential for food poisoning. That is, old candy may not look pretty or taste very good, even though it is very unlikely to make the eater sick. Candy can be made unsafe by storing it badly, such as in a wet, moldy area. wikipedia

Typical recommendations are these:

• Hard candy may last indefinitely in good storage conditions.
• Milk chocolates and caramels usually become stale after about one year.
• Dark chocolate lasts up to two years.
• Soft or creamy candies, like candy corn, may last 8 to 10 months in ideal conditions.
• Chewing gum and gumballs may stay fresh as long as 8 months after manufacture.

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 ? What's your favorite candy? I like anything with caramel.