5 Food Finds about Candy

National Candy Day

Five Food Finds about Candy

• The first chocolate eggs were made in Europe in the early 19th century and remain among the most popular treats associated with Easter.

• The celebration of Halloween started in the United States as an autumn harvest festival. In pioneer days, some Americans celebrated Halloween with com-popping parties, taffy pulls and hayrides.

• In the late nineteenth century, with the large influx of Irish immigrants into the U.S., Halloween became associated with ghosts, goblins and witches.

• The winter holidays represent the biggest boxed chocolate selling season.

• Ninety percent of parents admit to sneaking goodies from their kids’ Halloween trick-or-treat bags.

Today’s Food History

on this day in…

1873 Anthony Iske was issued a patent for a meat slicing machine. It worked much like a mandoline, with a frame to hold the meat while sliding it against the blade.
1879 James and John Ritty invented the first cash register. They came up with the idea to prevent bartenders from stealing at the Pony House Restaurant in Dayton, Ohio.
1879 African-American inventor, Thomas Elkins received a patent for a refrigerating machine, which could be used to cool food (or even human corpses according to the patent application).
1923 Alfred Heineken was born. Grandson of Gerard Adriaan Heineken, the founder of Heineken Brewery. He was president of the company from 1964 to 1989.