Luden's facts for kids
Luden's is a well-known American brand that makes cough drops. These drops help soothe your throat when you have a cough or irritation. Today, Luden's cough drops are made and sold in the United States by a company called Prestige Consumer Healthcare. Their main office is in Tarrytown, New York. Luden's offers many different flavors, and some of the most popular ones are Wild Cherry, Watermelon, Honey Licorice, and Wild Berry. They also have flavors like Blue Raspberry, Kiwi-Strawberry, and Honey Lemon.
Contents
The Story of Luden's
How It Started
The Luden's brand was created way back in 1879 by a person named William H. Luden. In the beginning, he made both cough drops and other candies. To help people learn about his new cough drops, William Luden gave free samples to railroad workers. This was a clever way to spread the word across the country, like an early form of "guerrilla marketing." This means using unusual or surprising ways to advertise.
Changes in Ownership
In 1928, a company called Food Industries of Philadelphia bought Luden's. During this time, Luden's made over 500 different kinds of candy, not just cough drops! They also had more than 1,200 people working for them.
Later, in 1986, the Dietrich family, who owned Luden's, sold the company to Hershey Foods Corp. Over the years, Luden's changed hands several more times. In 2001, Hershey's sold the Luden's Throat Drops brand to Pharmacia. Then, in 2003, Pfizer bought Pharmacia. By 2006, Pfizer sold its consumer products part, which included Luden's, to Johnson & Johnson.
In 2009, a company called Charlesbank Capital Partners/Blacksmith Brands bought Luden's. Finally, in late 2010, Prestige Brands bought Blacksmith Brands. This means Prestige Brands is the company that owns Luden's today.
Around 2008, packages of Luden's throat drops had a special slogan: "Trusted Luden's Care – Everyone needs a little TLC." The letters TLC stood for "Trusted Luden's Care," but also for the common phrase "tender loving care."
What's Inside Luden's Cough Drops?
Luden's throat drops are known as demulcents. This is a fancy word for something that helps relieve irritation. Some Luden's drops, like the Menthol and Honey flavors, also have a mild oral anesthetic. This means they can slightly numb your mouth or throat to help with pain.
Key Ingredients
- Pectin: For the fruit-flavored Luden's drops, the main helpful ingredient is pectin. Pectin is a natural substance found in ripe fruits. When you suck on the drop, the pectin creates a thin coating in your throat. This coating helps to reduce irritation and swelling, making your throat feel better.
- Menthol: The Original Menthol and various Honey flavors contain menthol. Menthol is another ingredient that helps relieve irritation. It also acts as an oral anesthetic, giving a cool, numbing feeling that can soothe a sore throat.
Other Ingredients
Luden's drops also contain other ingredients that give them their color, flavor, and texture. These include things like corn syrup, sugar, water, and different food colorings. They also have ingredients like citric acid and ascorbic acid, which is also known as Vitamin C.
