Sweet treats: 19 claims about candy and chocolate, verified

We won't sugarcoat it: Many of these rumors are false. Published Oct. 28, 2026 As Halloween approaches each year, frenzied rumors about candy and chocolate multiply. Social media users repeatedly urge caution about supposedly contaminated treats or the dangers of some of the products' ingredients. But rumors about candy and chocolate also include claims about their names, the effects of sugar on children's energy levels or some branded oddities, such as an orange chocolate flavored Heinz mayonnaise. Here are 19 rumors, true and false, Snopes has investigated about sweet treats over the years: Sources Dobrin, Nikki. 'KitKat or Kit-Kat: The Chocolate Bar's Mandela Effect'. Snopes, Snopes.com, 8 Dec. 2024, www.snopes.com/fact-check/kitkat-hyphen-madela-effect/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.Evon, Dan. 'Marijuana Edibles, Halloween Candy, and a History of Hysteria'. Snopes, Snopes.com, 25 Oct. 2021, www.snopes.com/articles/375420/halloween-marijuana-edibles/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.MacGuill, Dan. 'Yes, Heinz Created a "Chocolate Orange Mayo" in the UK'. Snopes, Snopes.com, 6 Dec. 2021, www.snopes.com/fact-check/heinz-terrys-chocolate-orange-mayo/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.Rascouët-Paz, Anna. 'Sugar Causes Hyperactivity in Children?'. Snopes, 3 Apr. 2024, www.snopes.com/fact-check/sugar-hyperactivity-children/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.The Conversation. 'The Spooky and Dangerous Side of Black Licorice'. Snopes, Snopes.com, 26 Oct. 2020, www.snopes.com/news/2020/10/26/the-spooky-and-dangerous-side-of-black-licorice/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026. By Anna Rascouët-Paz Anna Rascouët-Paz is based in Brooklyn, fluent in numerous languages and specializes in science and economic topics. Got tips? Reach out to her on Signal at rascouetsnopes.41 or via email at anna@snopes.com. Article Tags