Red Vines facts for kids
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Red Vines are a well-known brand of red candy. They are made by the American Licorice Company in Union City, California. Even though they are often called "red licorice," the original Red Vines Original Red Twists do not contain any real licorice root. The very first Red Vines were cherry-flavored. In 1952, the company changed the recipe a little. That's when the popular Red Vines Original Red Twist flavor was created.
How Red Vines Are Made
The American Licorice Company started making raspberry-flavored candy vines in the 1920s. In the 1950s, the company changed the name to Red Vines. They also updated their brand to focus on this new identity. The "Original Red" flavor quickly became more popular than the traditional licorice taste.
At the factory in Union City, different ingredients are mixed together. These include wheat flour, corn syrup, and a little citric acid. Flavoring and food coloring are also added. This mixture is then poured into large barrels and cooled for a full day. After cooling, the candy is pushed through a special machine. This machine shapes the candy into its final twisty form. The factory can make a huge amount of candy, up to 1,000,000 pounds every week!
Red Vines vs. Twizzlers
Red Vines and another similar candy called Twizzlers have a friendly rivalry. People often debate which one is better! This rivalry was even shown in an episode of the TV show Parks and Recreation. In that episode, characters argued about which candy was superior.
The brand manager for Red Vines says that the taste and texture of the two candies are very different. He explains that the rivalry between Twizzlers and Red Vines is mostly driven by fans. He compares it to the famous rivalry between the Montagues and Capulets in Romeo and Juliet. He thinks it has been around for so long that people forget how it even started. He also believes that the rivalry is mostly about where you live. Red Vines are more popular in the western United States and around the Great Lakes. However, their popularity tends to decrease east of Denver. Twizzlers, on the other hand, are based in Pennsylvania. This means they are more popular on the East Coast and in the Northeast parts of the United States.
Important Recall in 2012
In August 2012, the California Department of Public Health announced a recall. This recall was for one specific batch of Red Vines' black licorice candy. It was recalled because of a small amount of lead contamination. Only the one-pound packages that said "Best Before 020413" were affected.
Tests showed that the candy in this specific batch had a very small amount of lead. This amount was more than double the safe limit for children under 6 years old. It's important to know that this recall was only for a specific type and batch of black licorice. It was not for the regular red Red Vines candy. The company quickly took action to make sure all their products were safe.
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