Did you know it takes 6-10 days to make a jellybean? First the centers are made - of mostly sugar and corn syrup - and then they are left out 24-48 hours to dry. The second process involves being put in an “engrossing pan.” It resembles a clothes dryer! During that process the outside coating is built up on the jelly center. Confectioners glaze is applied to make the candies shiny.

A lot of chocolate confections use confectioners glaze also. Confectioners glaze is basically food grade shellac. According to wikipedia, this shellac contains as much acetone as the same about of nailpolish! The FDA has listed this on their inactive ingredients and is accepted as safe. This post has been edited to add that wikipedia is not always accurate:
I looked further and found this page from Iowa State University. Though the facts concerning acetone content at
wikipedia may not be true, nearly every other source of info I found on the topic said that shellac is a product from insects. Iowa State University had a link to a very interesting page on how “Lac” is made.

Cocoa beans used to be used as money in the Aztec Empire -four beans for a rabbit. Althought chocolate is widely available today and relatively inexpensive, you could spend $250 for one chocolate! At a price like that ($2,600 a pound), I think I could curb my choclate cravings.

While I was researching, I (re)found this website where a guy talks about his M&M duels. He saves the strongest M&M and sends them to Mars for breeding. He even says they sent him a free coupon in return for the victorious M&M! Click on the website above to see how you can have your own personal M&M duel. If you like to eat M&Ms, it might be a good idea!

Posted by Bonnie under food