Whew – Thank goodness some things have changed over the past hundred years. How could anyone back then think that candy cigarettes might be a good idea?
The question about whether licorice candy cigarettes and jaw breakers had any food value appeared in a question and answer column written by Dr. Harvey Wiley in the February, 1926 issue of Good Housekeeping. Dr. Wiley was concerned about adulterated foods, and advocated for more regulation of food and drugs. He was the first commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and later worked for Good Housekeeping Institute.
It’s interesting that Dr. Wiley focused his response on whether licorice was good for children rather than on whether candy cigarettes might encourage children to becomes smokers — though in 1926, people weren’t yet fully aware of the dangers of smoking.
The 1920’s was the era of the flappers, and social norms were rapidly changing. Many young women started smoking (and drinking alcohol – even though it was during prohibition) as a way of demonstrating their independence. Men also were smoking more cigarettes. Previously men were more likely to smoke cigars, but in the 1920’s many shifted to cigarettes.
Candy cigarettes were still popular when I was a child. There was a candy store near where I lived that prominently displayed them. I remember friends buying packs of the candy cigarettes. (I don’t think that I ever bought any, but am not sure.) They would gently tear the cellophane away from the top of the pack and tear it open. They’d take a “cigarette” out, maybe offer another one to a friend, then tap it on a table or hard surface, put it to their mouth, pretend to light it, pretend to inhale, then dramatically remove it from their mouth and pretend to exhale. Just thinking about it now makes me cringe, but at the time, it seemed like a fun activity.
Bottom line – I agree with Dr. Wiley, “Away with them!” I can’t remember the last time I saw a candy cigarette. It must have been at least 40 years ago. Candy cigarettes may still be legal; but, as we’ve become aware of the dangers of smoking, they thankfully seem to have vanished from the marketplace.
I remember them, too, but I don’t recall that they were licorice. I remember them as basically a hard, cylindrical sugar “cube.” My mother’s aunt owned a country gas station/store, and when we would visit (in the 1950s), my brother and I were allowed to get 10 cents worth of penny candy. I think I picked the cigarettes a couple times, but I usually went for chocolate or caramels.
I also remember the outside of the candy cigarettes they sold when I was a child as being white. I can’t remember if the middle was also white or it there was some licorice. I think it was white all the way through, but am very hazy on that.
I remember those days. As a parent, I think I would pick the cigarettes over jawbreakers. I wonder how many teeth were broken? I did smoke candy cigarettes, and we especially liked them in the winter when smoke could come out of our mouths. I think we “smoked” on the way to school. After saying that, I have never smoked a real cigarette.
I think that I liked the taste of jawbreakers better than the taste of candy cigarettes, but the candy cigarettes were more fun. I never worried about breaking a tooth back then, but worry about it now. Unfortunately, all the candy I ate back then probably contributed to my current dental concerns. Similarly to you, I never was a smoker, so I guess that candy cigarettes weren’t a gateway to smoking for me.
I didn’t know candy cigarettes ever were made from licorice; I’ve never seen or read about those. Ours were white, hard candy with pink tips, and I did buy them from time to time at the penny candy counter in our local gas station. I never pretended to smoke them, though. To me, they were just candy, and I’d munch away. Now, smoking corn silk behind the barn? That’s a different issue!
I also remember candy cigarettes having pink tips. Maybe manufacturers quit putting licorice in them a very long time ago. I think that I may have missed something when I was a kid. I never smoked corn silk behind the barn. 🙂
Oh how this brings back some crazy old notions. I, too, remember candy cigarettes, but the white ones, not licorice. And bubble gum cigars were big later. I remember jawbreakers, too. This was a fun look back, Sheryl, and an interesting tidbit about the first commissioner of the FDA.
Cigar gums are still a thing… In pink or blue to be handed out to dads pals when the baby is born….
I THINK!
My husband handed out the gum cigars when our children were born. I think that we thought it was healthier than handing out real cigars. You make an interesting point. Candy cigarettes are considered a gateway to smoking while gum cigars are considered a healthier option.
Those were fun days – even if, in hindsight, some of the sweets are a concern.
I have no idea what jawbreakers were/are, but I DO remember cigarette sweets. I wasn’t often allowed sweets as a child, but I do remember pretending to puff away on odd occasions when such sweets came my way. But I haven’t grown up a smoker, so no harm done, perhaps!
Like you, I didn’t become a smoker; so I guess, in both of our cases, that no harm was done. Jawbreakers are very large, round, hard candies. They last a long time when kids eat them because they are so big.
I also remember candy cigarettes. My parents wouldn’t let us buy any since they thought it would lead to smoking.
I don’t think that I ever even thought about buying candy cigarettes when I was with my parents. Like you, I’m sure they won’t have allowed it. Now, on the other hand, if I wasn’t with my parents, I might have considered buying them.
It wasn’t until the mid 1960s that cigarettes were considered unhealthy. Before that they were widely advertised and even sent free to soldiers and cartons given as gifts.
I “smoked” candy cigarettes, the white pink tipped ones. Maybe they stopped making the licorice ones because they were laxatives…
Medical knowledge sure has increased over the past hundred years. Looking back, it’s amazing that people didn’t realize until the 1960’s that cigarettes were unhealthy. I think you’re right that they probably quit making the licorice candy cigarettes because of the laxative effect.
I remember the candy cigarettes as a child being a hard, and not very tasty candy! Give me a chocolate candy bar any day!💕💕💕
I have similar memories. Candy bars were definitely tastier.
Candy cigarettes… I haven’t heard about them in a long time!!
My mom wouldn’t let us children have them , she didn’t like the looks of them … I never had one!
Thank goodness candy cigarettes seem to have vanished from stores years ago.
True!😀