Which popular Halloween candy was originally called "Chicken Feed"?

The popular Halloween candy originally called “Chicken Feed” was candy corn.

The name came from its kernel-like shape and the strong agricultural culture of late-19th-century America. Goelitz Confectionery Company, the predecessor of today’s Jelly Belly, marketed the tri-colored confection in boxes featuring a rooster and the slogan “Something worth crowing for.”

Candy corn’s early history is slightly more complicated than the familiar trivia answer suggests. George Renninger is credited with developing an early version at Philadelphia’s Wunderle Candy Company around 1888; related versions were called “Butter Cream” or “Chicken Corn.” Goelitz later popularized the product under the name “Chicken Feed,” which is why that label is commonly cited as its original name.

The candy was not initially exclusive to Halloween. Its harvest colors and farm imagery eventually made it a natural autumn treat, while its strong association with Halloween grew during the 20th century, especially as trick-or-treating became widespread in the 1950s. Despite its divisive reputation, the basic white, orange, and yellow design has remained remarkably consistent.