Candy corn is one of those sweets that makes people smile or groan the moment they see it. Whether you love it or hate it, many curious minds have wondered: 

Where did it come from? Why is it called candy corn? And what was the original name for candy corn? 

In this post, we’ll dig deep into the history and origins of this tri‑colored treat and uncover the truth behind its original name and how it evolved over time.

Understanding the origins of popular foods like candy corn satisfies curiosity and helps us connect with cultural traditions, especially around holidays like Halloween.

 People search for answers like this because they want more than just trivia; they want context, history, and stories.

 In this article, you’ll learn about candy corn’s humble beginnings on American farms, the companies that made it famous, and how it transformed from a farm‑themed confection into a Halloween staple.

Let’s start by answering the big question…

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🍿 Original Name: Chicken Feed — A Farm‑Themed Beginning

When candy corn first appeared on the confectionery scene in the late 19th century, it wasn’t called candy corn at all. The name that confectioners originally used was “Chicken Feed.”

The candy was developed in the 1880s when sweets were often made in shapes inspired by agriculture, such as pumpkins, chestnuts, and, yes, kernels of corn. Americans at that time were largely rural, and corn wasn’t widely seen as a sweet human food — it was used primarily as livestock feed.

So when a Philadelphia candy maker created a tri‑colored confection that resembled corn kernels, calling it chicken feed made perfect sense.

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🧁 Why Was It Called Chicken Feed?

The name chicken feed didn’t come from the flavor — it came from context. Back in the 1880s:

• Corn was mostly feed for chickens and livestock, not a popular food for people.
  
• Candy makers wanted to appeal to agrarian customers and evoke nostalgia for farming life.
  
• So the candy’s look and name were meant to echo farm life and rural America.
  

The first company to sell these candies was the Wunderle Candy Company of Philadelphia. A worker there named George Renninger is credited with inventing the first candy corn kernels.

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🏭 How Candy Corn Made Its Way Into Popular Culture

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, candy corn became a hit. In 1898, a major candy company from Cincinnati, the Goelitz Candy Company (which later became the Jelly Belly Candy Company), began producing the treat in larger quantities.

While Wunderle may have invented it, Goelitz played a huge role in popularizing it. They marketed it in boxes with a rooster on the front, reinforcing the chicken feed theme.

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📦 Why the Name Changed to Candy Corn

So when did chicken feed become candy corn?

As America became less rural and more urban, the original agricultural reference made less sense. Consumers weren’t as familiar with corn as livestock feed anymore, and the idea of eating something called chicken feed didn’t always sound appetizing.

Eventually, around the mid‑1900s, companies began calling the candy candy corn — a name that:

• Described its appearance (corn‑like kernels)
  
• Was more appealing to modern consumers
  
• Helped position it as a fun treat instead of a farm novelty
  

Over time, candy corn became the standard name everyone now knows.

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🍁 Candy Corn and Halloween: How It Became a Seasonal Icon

Even though candy corn existed before deeper Halloween traditions took hold, it eventually became associated with the holiday. Around the mid‑20th century, trick‑or‑treating became more common, and candies like candy corn were handed out door‑to‑door.

Today, candy corn is one of the most iconic Halloween sweets in the United States — whether you adore it or absolutely reject it.

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🎃 The Sweet Timeline of Candy Corn’s Original Name

Here’s a simple timeline showing how candy corn’s name evolved:

• 1880s – Invented by George Renninger and first produced by Wunderle Candy Company.
  
• Late 1800s‑early 1900s – Goelitz Candy Company begins mass production and sells it as Chicken Feed.
  
• Mid‑1900s – The name transitions to candy corn to appeal to broader audiences.
  
• 20th century‑present – Candy corn becomes a classic Halloween candy.
  

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🍬 What Does Mellowcreme Have to Do with It?

While candy corn became the popular name, confectioners sometimes referred to this type of sweet as mellowcreme candy or mellow cream due to the texture made from sugar and fondant. This term wasn’t a consumer brand name, but rather a category descriptor for candy corn and similar sweets.

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🍭 What Was Candy Corn First Marketed As?

So if chicken feed was the original name and candy corn came later, is there any evidence of another name?

Some old references and packaging also used terms like buttercream or described the candy as butter sweet candy corn in early boxes.

But by far, the strongest and most documented name before candy corn was chicken feed.

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🥳 Fun Facts About Candy Corn’s Name

Here are some quick trivia bites that make candy corn’s name history fun:

• The original chicken feed name played on a time when half the U.S. labor force lived on farms.
  
• The rooster on early packaging was part of the farm motif.
  
• Candy corn still uses much of the same recipe today as when it was introduced.
  
• Despite being tied to Halloween now, candy corn wasn’t originally a holiday candy.
  

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🍬 Why the Name Candy Corn Makes Sense Today

Today, the name candy corn works because:

• It describes what it looks like — small kernels resembling corn
  
• It’s appealing and familiar
  
• It ties into candy culture, especially during fall and Halloween
  

Also, candy corn’s bright colors (yellow, orange, white) match autumn tones, making it even more iconic.

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Conclusion:

So, what was the original name for candy corn? The treat we know and debate today began life as chicken feed a farm‑inspired confection sold in the late 1800s.

Over time, as America transitioned from an agrarian society to a more urban and consumer‑oriented one, the name candy corn replaced chicken feed because it sounded sweeter, more fun, and more exciting.

From its invention by George Renninger in Philadelphia to its mass production by the Goelitz Candy Company and eventual transformation into a Halloween staple, candy corn has come a long way.

Next time you see that bag of tiny yellow, orange, and white kernels, you’ll know the story behind the name and the playful origins of one of America’s oldest candies.