RED M&MS

Red colored M&M's were discontinued for 11 years from 1976 to 1985 after the FDA banned as Red Dye No. 2, despite the fact that M&M's did not contain the dye - the action was purely to satisfy worried consumers.

M&M's (named after their makers Forrest Mars and Bruce Murries) are colorful button-shaped candies with candy shells that surround a chocolate filling. Originated in the United States in 1941, the product, known to “melt in your mouth, not in your hand,” features many different colored M&Ms (although the coloring does not actually affect the taste)

In 1976, the red M&M’s were replaced with orange-colored versions after the FDA banned amaranth (also known as Red Dye No. 2). Many consumers protested, and a student at the University of Tennessee started a society for the “Restoration and Preservation of Red M&M's.”

Eventually the company relented and red candies were reintroduced in 1985 (orange remained).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M&M's and http://www.foodreference.com/html/artmandms.html

When M&M’s started, the chocolates were made in five colors: red, yellow, brown, green, and violet and served in a cardboard tube. In 1948, the cardboard packaging was replaced by the black cellophane packaging and in 1950, a black "M'" was first imprinted on the candies. It was changed to white in 1954.

In the 90’s, M&M's replaced their animated characters with computer animated "spokescandies" in their commercials. These include the team of the cynical and sardonic "Red" (originally voiced by Jon Lovitz, thereafter Billy West), who is the mascot for milk chocolate M&M's (he stands alongside the happy and gullible "Yellow," originally voiced by John Goodman, thereafter J.K. Simmons, the mascot for peanut M&M's).

Additional links about this topic:

http://www.mms.com/us/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaranth

http://www.candyfavorites.com/Red-M-amp-M-s-reg-pr-1021.html

http://adamfratino.com/writing/red-mm-poster

http://www.mymms.com/merchandise/