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Americans developed a sweet tooth that would last for decades
One of the side effects of World War I was the disruption of sugar trade routes. As a result, during the war, sugar was a valuable commodity in short supply to the public; the little available was repurposed for military use. When the war ended, the sweet stuff flowed freely again. The market re-opened and the price of sugar dropped dramatically. That paved the way for confectioners to mass-produce sweet treats, which were welcomed by consumers as well as returning soldiers who craved chocolate. (It was included in their rations).

During the 1920s, the candy bar reigned supreme, with countless brands introduced, including Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Charleston Chew, Heath Bar, Milky Way, Mounds, Mr. Goodbar and Oh Henry!. There were also absurdly named products such as Chicken Dinner, a candy bar that claimed to be as nutritious as… well… a chicken dinner! By the close of the decade, confectioners were churning out more than 40,000 different candy bars. The candy craze is still going strong in the 21st Century.

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