For years, M&M’s have delighted chocolate lovers around the world, but now the story behind their name is making waves on social media. Claire Dinhut, an American TikToker living in London, recently shared a surprising piece of chocolate history that has gone viral. In her video, she explained that M&M’s stands for Mars and Murrie, named after the business partners and chocolate heirs Forrest Mars Sr. and Bruce Murrie. Forrest Mars was the son of Frank C. Mars, the founder of Mars, Inc., while Bruce Murrie was the son of William Murrie, an executive at Hershey’s.

In the TikTok video, which has garnered over 9,000 likes, Claire detailed how a family feud played a role in the creation of the iconic candy. She explained that Forrest Mars had a falling out with his father, Frank Mars, who started the Mars candy company. “My favorite candy history fact is about M&M’s and why they’re called M&M’s,” Claire said. “There’s so much family drama, and it’s so juicy, it’s great. The Mars company was founded before Hershey’s, and Forrest, the son, was great at coming up with new chocolate bars.” While traveling through Europe, Forrest noticed people eating candy-covered chocolate and was inspired. However, instead of going to his father with the idea, he took it to Mars’ arch-rival, Hershey’s.

The Interesting Story Behind M&M’s Name

According to Claire, Forrest approached Hershey’s and said, “I’m the son of Mars, but I don’t want to work with my dad. Let’s work together instead.” William Murrie, who was running Hershey’s at the time, agreed to collaborate with Forrest under one condition: that his son, Bruce Murrie, would also be involved. Together, the two men developed the iconic candy, naming it after their last names, Mars and Murrie, hence the name M&M’s.

One reason M&M’s became so popular, Claire noted, was their timing. They were invented right before World War II, and Mars and Murrie struck a deal with the U.S. government to include M&M’s in soldiers’ rations. “During World War II, M&M’s were put in soldiers’ bags because they were heat-resistant and easy to transport,” Claire said. According to History TV’s official website, once the war was over and soldiers returned home, they were hooked on M&M’s, which led to their widespread popularity in the U.S.

The Meaning Behind M&M’s Colors

Aside from the name, another fun fact about M&M’s is that each color has its own unique flavor and meaning. For example, Red M&M’s are made with milk chocolate or dark chocolate peanut butter and represent genius-level intelligence and physical strength. Yellow M&M’s, one of the original colors, are peanut-flavored and are one of the most recognizable varieties. The Blue M&M, introduced in 1995, features flavors like raspberry, almond, or dark chocolate and was selected as the new color by fans through a national vote.

Green M&M’s are known for their association with beauty and confidence, often portrayed as the most stylish member of the M&M family. Orange M&M’s represent Crispy and Pretzel varieties and are depicted as anxious and paranoid, constantly worried about being eaten first because of their deliciousness. Brown M&M’s, represented by the character Ms. Brown, are one of the newer additions to the lineup and are often associated with classic milk chocolate or fudge brownie flavors.

The Signature M Stamp

One of the most interesting facts about M&M’s is that they didn’t always feature the signature “M” stamp on each piece. This distinctive stamp was introduced in 1950 as a way for customers to identify authentic M&M’s. The company encouraged buyers to check for the “M” on each candy to ensure they were getting the real deal. This small detail fascinated many social media users who commented on how much they enjoyed learning about the candy’s history.

One user said, “Oh boy, was I invested!” Another shared, “Love food history,” while a third person remarked, “Now this is the kind of history I’m interested in!”

From family drama to fascinating facts, M&M’s history goes far beyond their delicious taste. Thanks to Claire’s viral TikTok, chocolate lovers everywhere are gaining a deeper appreciation for the story behind one of the world’s most beloved candies.