People have strong opinions when it comes to Halloween candy. Everyone has their go-to favourites… and the ones they will never dare touch. Some candies fall in the category of controversy, where you either love ‘em or hate ‘em.

Next up… Necco Wafers

Necco Wafers (Mike Mozart / Flickr)

Necco Wafers have a long history, one dating back to a time before candy corn. In 1847, Oliver Chace invented a lozenge cutter. With success from his invention, Chase and his brother founded Chase and Company. In 1901 this company merged with two other candy companies to form the New England Confectionary Company, and NECCO was born. The chalky wafers went on to become a candy staple until the company’s closure in 2018.

Despite Necco Wafers’ lengthy history, not everyone is thrilled to see them when out trick-or-treating. In an article for CBC Radio’s As It Happens, John McGill writes:

The chalky little candies come in official flavours like chocolate, licorice, and wintergreen. And unofficially, they’ve also been described as “plaster surprise” and “stale Tums.” … Somebody else has said it’s like “tropical drywall.”

 

Necco Wafers (Evan-Amos)

Even though Necco’s factories have closed, fans of the polarizing candy needn’t worry. In 2018 Spangler Candy purchased the rights to the brand. As of the summer of 2020, the storied candy are back on shelves. This Halloween, are you going to be keeping the wafers… or desperately trying to trade them away?