The Reason You'll Find Jokes On Laffy Taffy Candy Wrappers

Laffy Taffy stretchy candy has been getting stuck between teeth and making eyes roll since the 1970s, though the barebones idea for the sweet treat began back in 1893. Originally named Beich's Banana Caramels, this brand learned to lighten up when it fell under Nestle ownership, printing corny jokes on the wrappers that justified its name. It became an important part of pop culture, a star seller under the Wonka name, and a candy worth fighting over in Halloween baskets (here's the top Halloween candy in every state, so you know just how stiff your competition is).

The jokes on Laffy Taffy started appearing on wrappers about a decade after its 1971 inception in as a way to bring more joy and laughter into the lives of the public. According to an interview with WFLA8, the brand manager of Laffy Taffy at the Ferrara Candy Company, Jenny Chen, said it was specifically "made to provide free entertainment and make the brand more fun and memorable." Laffy Taffy's jokes are part of the brand's appeal, which seems to be a success, given that the company produces over 450 million minibars every year.

Those cheesy setups and painful punchlines on Laffy Taffy wrappers aren't random, and they aren't computer-generated, either. Every joke you read on a Laffy Taffy candy has either been submitted by fans or carefully selected for its good-natured humor. There's a submission page on the brand's website where quick-witted fans can submit jokes of their own, which might just get selected to appear on the next batch of Laffy Taffy. The only unspoken rule about jokes is that they should remain light-hearted and appropriate, as the brand strives to remain "inclusive" and "family-friendly." Something like, "What musical instrument is found in the bathroom? A tuba toothpaste."

For nearly 50 years, these hilarious candies were sold under the Nestle brand, but in 2018 it was purchased by the Ferrara Candy Company for a few billion dollars. This is the same company responsible for Nutella, which you should never store in the fridge, that took over production for Laffy Taffy, Baby Ruth, 100 Grand, and many more since the buyout. Laffy Taffy's products have changed since the '70s, now spanning a few dozen flavors, but one of its most popular flavors will always be banana (even though artificial banana flavor doesn't taste like the real thing). While ownership may have changed hands and the product line may have expanded, the dad jokes on Laffy Taffy wrappers have remained the same and will supposedly continue to do so.