Disgusting Facts About Popular Candy with Historical Illinois Ties

Think candy corn is just a harmless little triangle of Halloween nostalgia? Let’s take a closer look at what’s lurking beneath that sugary shell — you might be in for a crunchy surprise.

Sugar and a Splash of Nostalgia...with a Dash of Horror

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Candy corn got its start in Illinois, thanks to Goelitz Confectionery Co., founded in Belleville in 1869. In 1889, the company bought the recipe from Wunderle Candy, branding it “Chicken Feed” and marketing it to farmers, with no Halloween ties in sight

There's zero middle ground on the subject of Candy Corn—you either love it or hate it. The disgusting facts I'm about to share with you will certainly not make you love it, it might make you want to vomit, and at the very least, you'll stop eating it.

It's not like I ever thought candy corn was made from wholesome, natural ingredients, it's just that its ingredients were never shared with me like this. I'm part of Generation X, and we're the largest consumers of this candy, according to a recent study shared by USA Today.

Most of my life I've heard others say that you should never ask how sausage is made. Today, you can add candy corn.

How is Candy Corn Made

Sugar and a Splash of Nostalgia...with a Dash of Horror

Ever wondered what gives candy corn its unmistakable flavor? Well, it's a culinary masterpiece of sugar, corn syrup, salt, and some other ingredients you’d probably find in your household cleaning supplies.

A Side of Protein: Animal Bones and Cartilage

That chewy texture doesn’t come from a happy farm. One of the key ingredients is gelatin, which brings a surprising amount of animal-based protein to the mix, crafted from the bones, cartilage, and skin of various animals.

Yes, candy corn is practically a protein shake for your Halloween soul — minus any actual nutritional value.

The Shiny, Buggy Secret

The glistening finish on our beloved candy corn comes courtesy of confectioner's glaze, which is just a fancy name for bug secretion. Yup, that polished look is brought to you by shellac, derived from the lac bug's sap-drenched secretions.

Lac bugs go through quite the process, sucking tree sap and chemically transforming it in their bodies, only to secrete it as a hard shell over their eggs. That protective coating? Harvested just for you to munch on.

Fun Fact: Bug Goo’s in Other Favorites, Too!

Before you vow to swear off candy corn forever, remember, that the lacquered bug glaze appears in all kinds of candies — Junior Mints, Whoppers, Milk Duds, Raisinets, and Tootsie Rolls too. If you think you can stomach it, usatoday.com has more.

MORE: Best Place to Grab Cheeseburgers in Illinois, According to Yelp