Talk:Smarties/Archive 1

Separate pages
I suggest we split this page into two &mdash; Smarties (Nestlé) and Smarties (Ce De Candy) &mdash; I think it would be easier to treat them separately. &mdash; Matt Crypto 14:29, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)

I agree. The two products have no real link. Frankie Roberto

Not in the US?
Why aren't Smarties sold in the US? Does anyone have any idea? Kaiser matias 05:46 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
 * The Smarties brand name within the US was sold to Ce De Candy at some point, who produce Smarties (Ce De Candy), which are quite different. So they both are and aren't sold in the US ;-) &mdash; Matt Crypto 10:25, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)
 * smarties are already owned by a different company in the us. those hard pixie stick tasting tube of pills type candy.  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.30.245.96 (talk) 01:01, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

M&M's vs Smarties?
Which sells better in the UK, Smarties or M&Ms? This should be added.


 * That's hard to say; I can't find a source anywhere (or for that matter a website which lists the most popular sweets in general). M&M's were fairly obscure in the UK until quite recently, and checking Wikipedia's own article I see that they weren't sold here as M&M's until 1990, although nowadays they are very common in cinemas because of their practicality, and because you can eat more M&M's than Smarties, over a longer period of time, without being sick. Smarties have a definite kid-friendly appeal, whereas M&M's seem more grown-up, and indeed they are more expensive.-Ashley Pomeroy 15:03, 4 May 2005 (UTC)


 * To answer the person at the top of this page, Smarties are generally called 'chocolates' or just 'Smarties', and no British person would ever use the word 'candy' and certainly not 'candies'. I add that the singular of 'Smarties' is 'Smartie' and not 'Smarty'. Also, the product sort-of competes with Maltesers, Cadbury's Buttons, Refreshers and Galaxy's chocolate buttons in that they are all social sweets, i.e. you can share them readily (less so Rolos, because you get fewer of them).-Ashley Pomeroy 14:48, 4 May 2005 (UTC)


 * I may be diverting from the subject here, but Smarties have a notably big advantage over M&M; the tube is extremely useful, whereas an empty M&M's packet is just a ripped sheet of plastic. A Smarties tube can be used as a smoothbore projectile launcher (blow-gun, mortar), a straw (to suck things with), a container (stones?), and also as a splint (if you were to break a finger, say). Furthermore, an array of five or six hundred tubes, placed end-on into the ground, can be used as a comfortable mattress.-Ashley Pomeroy 14:54, 4 May 2005 (UTC)


 * Furthering the social sense of Smarties - and although this information cannot go in the article, it might help to inform writers - a tube of Smarties is small enough that it can be used as a platonic non-binding gift, in the sense that to buy someone a tube of Smarties is not a declaration of love, merely friendly affection. If one were to offer one's workmate(s) a whole bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk, for example, that would definitely cross a line into erotic or emotional obsession; whereas a tube of Smarties is neither too small to be insulting, nor too large to be awkward. As a hetereosexual, I would never buy a man a bar of chocolate, but I could contemplate a buying him a tube of Smarties, although I would probably choose Refreshers instead; albeit that I probably wouldn't buy another man a gift. Individual Smarties can also be used as tokens, because they are cute; more importantly, they can be requested from other people, because to deny someone an individual Smartie would be excessively petty or cheapskate, an insult. In this respect they are superior to Rolos, which are individually too large to be casually given away. Furthermore, whereas crisps are generally eaten in one mass, individual Smarties can safely be distributed amongst many different people.-Ashley Pomeroy 15:01, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

Chopsticks and records
That 23 Oct 2003 record might be out of date: (attempt) and (no mention in 2005 book). I can't say this uncertainty keeps me awake at night, but just for your information... :) --Telsa 14:53, 8 Jun 2005 (UTC)

Smarties box as a musical instrument
In Canada, as long as I can remember, Smarties have been packaged in a cardboard box. Up until something less than a decade ago, these boxes were well-loved by Canadian children, who all knew that if you sealed your mouth over the open end and blew, it would produce a distinctive honking/sqeaking noise. This was very much part of the Canadian Smartie experience. For some reason unknown to me, and at a date I can't recall (though I certainly did notice the event), they changed the box design in a way that eliminated this effect. Can anyone fill in the missing details so this can be added to the article? 216.75.170.81 18:46, 16 September 2005 (UTC)

Oh, BTW-- I have received special Christmas edition smarties in a tube with red plastic caps. AFAICR, they were normal Canadian Smarties. 216.75.170.81 18:50, 16 September 2005 (UTC)


 * I was a Smarties musician back when I was a squirt. Can't remember when it was changed, but I recall that the ends were being sealed/glued for security right around the time we had a large scare with unsealed Tylenol pill bottles... (not really a strong enough reference for the page, sorry) --Bookandcoffee 03:31, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

Slogan change timing
I first started seeing Smarties commercials when I moved to Canada in the early 1990s, and I remember them still using the "When you eat your Smarties, do you eat the red ones last?" jingle. Maybe the timing was different in different markets? 83.71.57.131
 * I live in Canada and they still use that slogan in their most recent commercials. The commercials also seem to be targetted at a more adult audience now. 24.138.40.135 03:56, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

Peanuts
Are Smarties safe for people with peanut allergies? (M&M's are not; barring changes that I haven't heard about, even plain M&M's have ground peanuts as an ingredient of their chocolate. This is listed among the ingredients on the bag.) --Trovatore 21:05, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

I believe so. Unlike M&Ms, there isn't a peanut version of smarties, and my brother eats them and isn't dead. However, always check the packaging because things change. Skittle 14:18, 8 May 2006 (UTC)
 * There is now a peanut version (at least in Canada), but Nestle makes a special effort to keep regular Smarties away from peanut Smarties and other Nestle peanut bars. The same goes for Kit Kats, Aeros, and Coffee Crisps.  A few years ago, they were going to change this, but they got tons of negative response, so they changed their minds.  Now, Smarties have a peanut free safe to share logo in Canada. 70.64.106.136 02:45, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

White Smarties (in the UK)
As part of a marketing campaign, there was a period when white Smarties were available. Can anyone remember more details on this? I have a feeling it was the early 1990s. I also think gold Smarties have existed as part of a competition (find the gold Smartie and win...). —Preceding unsigned comment added by Srh28 (talk • contribs) 15:47, 30 January 2006
 * White Smarties have been available several times, most recently in mid 2005 when tubes of only black and white Smarties were issued (due to another marketing campaign where someone 'nicked the colour'). The first, though, and the one you're thinking of, was in 1990- see [link removed]. BillyH 17:05, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

Hexagonal Tubes
I heard from a Nestlé sales representative that apparently by switching to the Hexagonal tubes they could be fit more into a box, and therefore save upon transit costs (most notably fuel). Does this seem anything like the truth to anyone? If not its quite a fun little urban legend. --Neo 17:25, 6 May 2006 (UTC)


 * It makes perfect sense, as hexagons fit together without any space between them (as in a honeycomb). The cardboard is also thinner than in the previous tube, due to the hexagonal form being sturdier than a tube, so the packaging is notably lighter; from the consumer point of view, it doesn't roll off the table as easily as the old tube did. I'll have to buy a box (yum!) and put a picture of it in the article.  Pr oh ib it O ni o n s   (T) 20:42, 30 May 2006 (UTC)

I'm actually wondering about the reasons for the change from cylindrical tubes to hexagonal boxes. I have heard rumours that certain safety standards committees were getting complaints that the tubes may be dangerous as the lids provided a choking hazard. Is there any more information on this, or is it just hearsay?--Like omgzz 21:09, 28 June 2006 (UTC)

Article sound like advertising
I think that parts of this article sounds like advertising.

eg. "Fun facts" heading, "Smarties song" section

Anonymous_ _Anonymous  12:39, 16 June 2006 (UTC)


 * I've taken the NPOV tag off as it looks like recent work has cleared things up somewhat. The Smarties song is just a bit of doggerel, IMO - the page would be just fine without it as it's there without attribution or anything else. Maybe that should go as well.. --Mike 20:24, 30 June 2006 (UTC)

Red not allowed in the US
I remembered hearing of a story from when I was a kid about red Smarties not being allowed in the US. So just now I looked it up on the Times Digital Archive and I found a story from 1982. '[The Times'', Saturday, Jan 30, 1982; pg. 1;]''' Some chap unconnected with Rowntrees decided to import 200 tubes of Smarties into the US in order to test market them on US children. His name was William Reid and he normally imported glassware. When he arrived at New York customs the customs official looked at the Smarties and then called in an officer from the Food and Drugs administration who decided that Reid could bring in all of the coloured Smarties except the red ones. Accoding to the story in the paper, the reason given was that the red ones resembled an "illicit drug" and that they contained cochineal [spelled cochinelle in the story] which, according to The Times reporter, was banned in foods in the US. So Reid, his family and some children at the airport went through the 7200 Smarties sorting out the red ones, and putting them to one side. They were not allowed to eat them they had to be destroyed. He was then able to proceed with the tubes re-packed with the remaining colours. When Rowntrees heard of the story they were not suprised. The did not directly export to the US; but had a licensing deal with Hersheys. Apparently they had six different sets of Smarties that were exported to approx. 80 different countries and the various food regulations were so intractable that "we have to have it worked out for us by a computer programme (sic)". I'm not sure how best to put this in the article. Is cochineal banned in foods in the US? Jooler 09:04, 6 July 2006 (UTC)
 * Idiot, that's the way programme is spelled. Dolt! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.50.54.178 (talk)
 * A television programme is spelled programme. A computer program is spelled program as any British English dictionary will tell you. Jooler 17:44, 14 July 2006 (UTC)
 * You don't get more English than the OED, and it disagrees with you (of course). Program is an incorrect US variant.  You guys should form a club. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.50.54.178 (talk)
 * Well firstly the OED is an International Dictionary. It even has an North American sub-Editor Jesse Sheidlower. Secondly I can't find anything in it that "disagrees with me". But under "programmer" it lists - "e. spec. One who writes computer programs" - while in other cases it lists the word as program(me)s. The distinction is similar to that between metre a unit of measure, and meter a measuring device. Granted that the origin of program with regard to a computer program is of US origin but it is normal British usage and was so in even in the 1980s amongst software professionals. Who are you referring to as "you guys" anyway? Jooler 08:14, 15 July 2006 (UTC)
 * I'm British, and a computer programmer by profession, and when I worked in the profession in the mid 1970s, the correct spelling was "program" &mdash; as distinct from "programme" (in British English) for the TV variety; so if the OED says otherwise, then this is one of its rare mistakes. Authoritative != infallible. -- 92.40.15.234 (talk) 14:29, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Cochineal. Well, it's made from beetles, and knowing that might make kids sick...if they were truly the whiners the Nanny State percieved them to be. I think they would use artificial cochineal now to get rid of moans from the animal-lovers. Although I have a nasty feeling blue smarties might now have been banned because they have to use artificial colourings, and smarties 'no longer have those'...Nanny State strikes again. Lady BlahDeBlah 22:20, 25 August 2006 (UTC)


 * How is it 'Nanny State' when a manufacturer follows a market trend for 'no artificial...' and removes something to enable it to make adverts implying its product is relatively healthy, so that consumers who are concerned about such things (ie, an increasing number) will buy their product? That's capitalism! There was no state involvement at all. Skittle 09:53, 26 August 2006 (UTC)


 * Twas probably Nanny's idea in the first place. Follow my new and boring legislations or get hounded out of my country. Same vein allows schools to confiscate items of a young child's packed lunch because they're even vaguely 'unhealthy'. Even if the sweet bar says 'LO FAT' on the effing label.

Twats. (You can tell I hate livin' 'ere, can't you...)Lady BlahDeBlah 15:53, 29 August 2006 (UTC)

A Strange type of smartie...
I vaguely remember in around 1997 eating packets of smarties that came in a bag, (UK by the way) rather like the bags Minstrels or Malteasers come in. However, among these smarties there were larger multicoloured type smarties which I think contained white chocolate. I believe this type had a UFO or Alien theme (perhaps that's what the multicoloured ones were supposed to represent...) however, I can't be sure. I'm pretty sure they were named Smarties: something, though. Anyone any info? And no, I'm not getting mixed up with Astros!
 * They were called Smarties Secrets, and they totally rocked. See them [link removed]. BillyH 23:19, 4 August 2006 (UTC)

Light Brown Smarties?
Before 1958, light brown had a poo-flavoured centre.

A poo-flavoured centre?

Please.


 * According to the article, they had a coffee-flavoured centre. But if the "coffee" was the instant variety, as opposed to proper coffee which is brewed from grounds (preferably freshly-ground ones), then you may have a point. :-) -- 92.40.15.234 (talk) 14:35, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

UK vs. Canada vs. elsewhere
Many of the statements made on this page appear to only apply only to the product sold in the UK, or at least they exclude the product sold in Canada. It is difficult to discern which statements apply globally, especially in the history section (such as the coffee flavoured light-brown ones). Does anyone know when smarties were first introduced Canada? www.nestle.ca is not very helpful. I am almost positive the orange ones are not orange flavoured in Canada, unless it happened very recently. I'd never even heard speculation of such a thing --Someones life 05:47, 7 December 2006 (UTC)


 * I'm also absolutely positive that Canadian orange smarties are not orange-flavoured. -- Charlene 01:59, 10 April 2007 (UTC)


 * I'm even more positive after extensive original research. -- Charlene 18:10, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Smarties disambig talk page redirects here
Fix?

I had wanted to say that if Nestle Smarties are worldwide except the United States and the other Smarties are only in the US, shouldn't the Nestle Smarties be above the other Smarties in the list? Vitriol 01:42, 23 December 2006 (UTC)
 * I've removed the redirect. Just as a comment, I don't think it really matters which is listed first. To me, nestle smarties are the "real" smarties, but it still doesn't matter which is listed first. Besides, "Ce De Candy" comes before Nestle alphabetically. Bladestorm 18:46, 16 January 2007 (UTC)

Unsourced trivia

 * On 25 October, 2003, Kathryn Ratcliffe set a Guinness World Record by eating 138 Smarties in three minutes using chopsticks.
 * Apparently 170 smarties, according to, although I would be happier if someone has access to the book so we could reference that. This 'events' page is likely to change. Skittle 23:24, 2 January 2007 (UTC)
 * In Canada, Smarties are traditionally all the same chocolate flavour inside, although recent marketing trials have included boxes of flavoured candy. Some flavours include Sundae and Orange. Smarties in Canada are usually sold in either a plastic bag or an oblong cardboard box.


 * For limited periods in 1993, 1995, and 2000, tubes containing only orange Smarties were available in the UK.


 * The 1980 album "Sky 2" by the British instrumental band Sky features a track called Tuba Smarties (a pun on "tube of Smarties").


 * Recording artist Dan Bern produced a double CD in 1998 called "Smartie Mine" with a track of the same name praising the color and imagination of the candies. There are numerous shots on the album artwork of Dan eating Smarties or of Smarties individually or in dishes.


 * In the UK, during the December holiday period in 2006, special tubes of just Pink Smarties, and similarly Black and White ("Robbers" - pictures of cartoon robbers were on the packaging) Smarties, were on sale.

Let's get some sources for these, if people want them in the article. Certainly I find the last 'fact' dubious, given my close searching of the sweet market this Christmas :-) Skittle 23:18, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

Orange-Flavour in Canada
I'm from Canada and I don't recall our orange Smarties having an orange-flavoured chocolate. Am I just not tasting it? 64.25.184.202 00:00, 13 February 2007 (UTC)Jasmine, Ontario, Canada

I haven't had any orange flavour or coffee flavoured Smarties either. Though now Smarties is introducing fruit flavoured candy (but I don't think there is chocolate in it).

Scientific Dimensions
Smarties are oblate spheroids with a minor axis of about 5 mm (0.2 in) and a major axis of about 15 mm (0.6 in) C'mon, these are CANDY minor and major axis measurements? CHILDREN are the ones who are going to be looking this up. How about some english? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by JDHannan (talk • contribs) 02:05, 28 February 2007 (UTC).


 * Adults eat Smarties too. They do here.... -- Charlene 02:00, 10 April 2007 (UTC)


 * I think most adults would be disinterested in the precise dimensions of smarties unless of course they were researching the prevalence of oblate spheroids in the confectionery industry. 220.239.29.156 12:45, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, there's more than a whiff of dry humour in describing a frivolous subject with the same formal and technical style as you might discuss a weightier scientific topic. It amused me sufficiently that I've felt disinclined to alter it. &mdash; Matt Crypto 13:34, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Singular Term
What is the singular term for Smarties? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Simpol363 (talk • contribs) 00:20, 6 March 2007 (UTC).

I guess it's Smartie? 195.210.214.180 21:05, 29 March 2007 (UTC)

Citation needed re: comment "Smarties are derivative of M&M". My understanding is that the contrary is true. Smarties were devised during WW2 as a means for sentry guards on night patrol to have a caffeinated sugary snack to repel drowsiness and maintain alertness. Chocolate would have been an ideal solution except for its tendency to melt and gum up the triggerworks. A candy-coated chocolate however prevented this problem. This origin of Smarties however may in itself just be urban myth (if so, its still a fun aside).

Nyah-Nah-Nah Nah-Nah
&quot;(i.e. in the fashion of nyah-nah-nah nah-nah)&quot; Is this a techincal term? -Sana 04:56, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

I've added back some things Rayban removed
This is because: 1)They were some of the few sourced things in an otherwise source-light article 2)Removing sentences that specifically say they refer to the UK on the basis that they don't apply to places that are not the UK, and thus show UK-centrism is a rather odd argument to use 3)The lede is supposed to be repeating what the rest of the article says, so repeating things in the lede that are said further down is okay. If anything, the source used in the lede should be moved to support the similar sentences further down, as it isn't usual to add references in the lede 4)When there is only one History section in the article, and it is very brief, and it mostly deals with the very earliest days of the product which are common to all areas, renaming it History (Europe) doesn't make a lot of sense.

This article could do with some more sourced information concerning all territories. What it could not do with is the little sourced information there is being removed. Skittle (talk) 04:52, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Any better? Oh, and I removed the sentenced added to the 'colours' section about no white smarties being visible on current websites; it was redundant with the very next sentence, it was OR, and didn't really seem to serve much purpose. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Skittle (talk • contribs) 05:27, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

Oh, and when you feel something is written which only applies to the UK when it could be misunderstood as applying to everywhere, considered adding "in the UK" rather than removing the section. Also, part of the problem with the references is that Nestle recently reorganised their site, losing the pages they previously had on Smarties and their history. The broken links were removed, leaving unsourced information. Maybe I'll have a little look through the internet archive. Skittle (talk) 05:29, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

What better source than the Nestle website! There are no white Smaties being made. The Uk site lists the colors, and white is not among them! White Smarties are not depicted on any Nestle website. Also, who is the author of the Manchester article is unnamed. What proof do you have that Germany or Canada use the same coloring.The Canadian website openly lists the ingredients All your cites are UK centric or local activist group concerns. —Preceding unsigned comment added by RAYBAN (talk • contribs) 18:47, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

Rayban now seems to be deleting the claims that "blue Smarties were replaced with white" and that mauve Smarties use cochineal. I can see that the a Nestle page says that blue was taken out and not replaced, but it's unclear how up-to-date this page is; it's possible that they removed blue, and added white as a replacement a while afterwards. It's also possible that it never happened, as both of the white-Smartie articles speak in the future tense. We should work to get some better sources.

I don't see how the Nestle site contradicts the cochineal claim, though, particularly when the Manchester Evening News actually quotes a Nestle spokesperson confirming that they use cochineal colouring. Could you explain your edits, Rayban? --McGeddon (talk) 18:30, 24 February 2008 (UTC)


 * As to the white smarties, blue was removed and replaced with white for a time. Now, they have reintroduced blue. I feel the article is clear about this, and sufficiently sourced (three sources for the removal, one for the readdition). The picture that Rayban removes compares the colours available before and after the switch to natural colouring, and you will notice the blue is replaced with white. The article is clear that blue has been reintroduced, and that this was a UK thing. Skittle (talk) 19:11, 24 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Do the sources back it up that strongly? We have two newspapers saying in the future tense that blue is going to be replaced with white, and one saying that blue is being re-introduced, without explicitly saying that it's replacing white. As far as I can see, the sources would fit a history where Nestle decided not to introduce white after all; we can't use somebody's photo alone as a reliable source. --McGeddon (talk) 19:17, 24 February 2008 (UTC)


 * Of course I'm in a bind because I bought smarties throughout the time we're discussing, and I know that they replaced blue with white then put blue back. But that's OR. We have a photo showing smarties with blue, and with white. You can find articles before the change because there was a story in it, but there wasn't really a story anymore once they actually made the change. Other sources which specify that blue was replaced by white, but then came back. Pakistani Daily Times The Guardian Another source that blue was removed then returned. Skittle (talk) 19:25, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Okay, nice work, those sources are much better. I'll leave this article to cool down a bit before going back to editing them in, though. --McGeddon (talk) 19:39, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

An enthusiast's website claims there were three changes in the UK at different times during 2006-2008 and in this order: It has convincing pictures of the Smarties tubes of the period depicting white, blue or neither as appropriate. I hope this helps to find a wording that everyone can be happy with. The site claims (with pictorial evidence again) that white smarties were available earlier in special editions with fewer colours, such as black & white and frostbite, just in case that was confusing anyone. (I can't link to the site because its ISP is on the Wikimedia spam blacklist but one could search for northerntrumpet smarties) Certes (talk) 21:23, 24 February 2008 (UTC)
 * 1) blue smarties replaced by white
 * 2) white smarties removed (leaving neither blue nor white)
 * 3) blue smarties reintroduced

I've deleted some things McGeddon/Skittle (Same person - 2 different accounts?) added back
What better source than the Nestle website! There are no white Smaties being made. The Uk site lists the colors, and white is not among them! White Smarties are not depicted on any Nestle website. Also, who is the author of the Manchester article is unnamed. What proof do you have that Germany or Canada use the same coloring.The Canadian website openly lists the ingredients All your cites are UK centric or local activist group concerns. —Preceding unsigned comment added by RAYBAN (talk • contribs)


 * The article does not say white smarties are currently being made, in specifies (with a source) that they were for a time, but that now blue smarties have replaced them again. Nobody claims that the article says anything about German Smarties, the information which is UK specific is indicated as being specific to the UK. If you would like the article to say something about Canadian smarties that it does not currently say, please add it with sources. This would greatly improve the article.


 * Finally, if you would like to open arbitration proceedings as you have threatened, be my guest. Skittle (talk) 19:03, 24 February 2008 (UTC)


 * We have a Nestle spokesperson saying that the company uses cochineal in their Smarties product - that's all we know, and that's all we can write, in the absence of other sources that discuss cochineal. The article may not have a specific journalist in the byline, but the Manchester Evening News would appear to meet requirements for a reliable source; unless you have a strong reason to believe that they are lying and made up the Nestle quote, I don't see why we shouldn't use the source. --McGeddon (talk) 19:07, 24 February 2008 (UTC)

Skittle/Mcgeddon (same guy with two accounts to maximize his daily edits and undo's) is making this article, which deals with a world wide product and has a history in other countries (different than the UK) , so heavily laden with U.K.-centered and viewpoints that most of what he says does not really apply or have relevance to the rest of the world. It is a selfish thing to do. Perhaps you can put all you want to say in this section instead of ruining the article for your own self-centered ideals. —Preceding unsigned comment added by RAYBAN (talk • contribs)
 * Please stop accusing other editors of sockpuppetry. This is bad faith, and creates a very unfriendly environment for your fellow Wikipedia editors. If you genuinely believe somebody to be controlling multiple accounts for abusive purposes, you can (and should) report it at Suspected sock puppets, instead of making unsupported accusations on talk pages.
 * If you'd like to edit the article to include sourced details about Smarties in countries other than the UK, then please do so. If it's the case that Smarties are a largely generic product with a few notable exceptions in the UK, though, it makes sense that the article would mention the UK more than other countries. --McGeddon (talk) 09:21, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Mcgeddon/Skittle - Sock Puppy & Sick Puppy
Its obvious and I accuse. You are not only a sock-puppy, but a sick-puppy. If you want to make this place your life and ruin article after article, go ahead. You are so self-absorbed I feel you don't have much of one. Someone needs to call you out on the carpet. I have read your talk section and it seems a lot of users have concerns about you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by RAYBAN (talk • contribs)


 * So you have said several times. If you wish to actually accuse someone of having/being a sockpuppet, please bring this up in the places you have been provided links to several times. That way you can make a formal complaint and it will be looked into. Skittle (talk) 11:49, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

Good Work
What a fun article, and well written too. Keep up the good work you smartie geeks. By the way the answer is 42 :) Cheers Lethaniol 21:36, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

Other UK packaging?
Although I've only seen Smarties in the snack-sized tubes for a while now, I remember them being sold in a rectangular box (dimensions approx. 4" tall, 3" wide and 1" deep IIRC) during my childhood and early adulthood; those boxes probably contained between 4 and 8 ounces (or perhaps 100–250g in their final days), and the last of them were probably at the start of the blue-Smartie era.

I know these boxes were produced because I bought about half a dozen for a "guess the number of Smarties in the jar" competition (for anyone reading this, counting Smarties or the like isn't difficult if you have a fairly large workspace; make piles of ten, then when you have ten piles push them into a pile of one hundred); if this can be established with the proverbial reliable good sources, it might make a good addition to the article.

(OK, it's more UK-centric info, but Smarties originated in the UK; what can one expect? As long as it's clearly labelled as UK-specific, so as to keep a worldwide view, what's the problem?) -- 92.40.15.234 (talk) 14:54, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

Smarties Eggs

 * 1) Could we also add the egg shape Smarties?
 * 2) Also there is the pay off line "Wotalotigot"
 * 3) McDonald’s in South Africa offer McFlurry toppings of Oreo’s, Smarties, Cadbury’s Crunchie or Astros.
 * 4) The Frùttolo fruit-flavored snack yogurt with Smarties chocolate drops launched in Italy.
 * 5) Smarties Award for Children's Books in UK

In South Africa, Smarties are packaged mostly in rectangle boxes of different sizes (eg 61g, 150g)

So much to expand on--Jcw69 14:52, 18 Feb 2005 (UTC)


 * The egg-shaped Smarties are only sold between Christmas and Easter; I'm not sure they were sold this year. The line "what a lot I've got" was part of the UK TV advertising jingle in the '60s or early '70s, and variations on it (e.g. "everybody's got enough to share", and never mind the slightly self-contradictory nature of that phrase) have been used in every Smarites jingle I've heard.  Now if we can establish and expand upon these facts... -- 92.40.15.234 (talk) 15:01, 25 June 2008 (UTC)

New colourings
I'm vegetarian, and haven't eaten Smarties since they replaced the red dye with cochineal.

My mum bought me a Smarties Easter egg today (I know that makes me sound about 12, but it's her duty to provide us with chocolate still... is it not?!), and before I ate it I checked the ingredients list.

Apparently, the colourings are now all plant sourced. The Smarties website says the same thing. It also makes a point of listing one of the ingredients (carnauba wax) as derived from plants, not animal products.

Does anyone know if Smarties are now veggie? KillerKat (talk) 14:54, 12 April 2009 (UTC) (with all fingers crossed)


 * I just noticed on the side of a pack that they are, at least in the UK. I corrected the article, but can't find any sources other than the Smarties homepage, not even a press release (strange, I'd expect Nestle to make a big deal about it given the number of old stories about beetles being used). the wub "?!"  11:19, 13 April 2009 (UTC)


 * "Does anyone know if Smarties are now veggie?" - yes, there is no beef in Smarties (tut...) 86.139.69.99 (talk) 00:48, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

Non-artificial
There needs to be something mentioned in the article about this new 'healthy' gimmick affecting the look and taste of the product. Using flavourings such as Red Cabbage and Black Carrot has definitely affected the taste and some of them are just plain foul. Surely there will be a website somewhere to cite sources on the declining taste of Smarties. I for one have completely gone off them since they removed the flavourings/colourings. Plus, they look drab now - not very exciting to look at for children. 86.139.69.99 (talk) 00:52, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

That's not a very good picture
When I first looked at this page, the image made me think I had the wrong candy. Wouldn't an image of the box or logo, or maybe a bowl full of smarties be better than what we've got? 66.207.206.210 (talk) 14:05, 20 July 2009 (UTC)

Not manufactured since 1882
Even the history of Rowntree tells about 1937. "1937 – Smarties are introduced."

Nothing about Chocolate Beans from 1882...

-- 74.192.243.109 (talk) 02:06, 15 January 2010 (UTC)

Fall In Sales Following Change of Tube Design
I heard that there was a small but statistically significant fall in Smarties sales following the change in tube design a few years ago (from circular to hexagonal). Can anyone provide a reference for this, please? RomanSpa (talk) 23:54, 19 January 2010 (UTC)

Smarties equivalent in Japan
Not sure it have its place in wikipedia (I guess it does) but here in Japan, Meiji Seika is selling since 1961 "Marble Chocolate" (マーブルチョコレート), which are similar in terms of shape (both the candy itself and the way it is sold in tube) and taste. —Preceding unsigned comment added by MagicalTux (talk • contribs) 23:38, 4 June 2010 (UTC)

Smarties perceptual mapping
Does anyone have a perceptual map showing how consumers perceive Smarties compared to competition such as m&m's. Thanks- Reiner. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 132.216.228.34 (talk) 22:30, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Red Dye No. 2 Scare
I have read that during the Red Dye No. 2(also known as Amaranth) scare Nestlé stopped making red Smarties even though they contained a different dye. I haven't had much luck with finding out much more though and don't have enough info to add to the article. Does anyone else know more about this? Also I was wondering if there's a connection between this Red Dye scare and the slogan "Do you eat the red ones last?", or if it's just coincidence. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.97.221.137 (talk) 08:15, 5 February 2006 (UTC)

Violet Smarties & cochineal
I believe this is no longer the case? 150g bags of Smarties in the UK now list the colours as: hibiscus, spirulina, lemon, radish, red cabbage, black carrot, and safflower. Unless they just missed cochineal off because it's a bit off-putting. lol, something to research perhaps... —Preceding unsigned comment added by Beeurd (talk) 22:22, 29 April 2010 (UTC)

In the US
Smarties are available in the US as "Smart Alecs", though they're difficult to find. You can get them at Larry's Market in the QA district of Seattle, in the "British Foods" section. &mdash;Ashley Y —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ashley Y (talk) 08:54, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

Orange Smarties
I'm not sure how this is on WP:RS, but it is claimed that "Painstaking efforts have been made to ensure that all the information contained within the Miscellany is accurate." —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mr Stephen (talk) 12:15, 6 November 2006 (UTC)