How Candy Corn Is Made and What's Inside It

SciShow Kids

This educational video from Sci Kids explores the fascinating food science behind a classic Halloween treat: candy corn. Hosted by Jessi and her puppet friend Sam, the video breaks down the manufacturing process and ingredients list of candy corn to answer the question: "Is there actually corn in candy corn?" The hosts investigate how field corn is processed into corn starch and corn syrup, effectively connecting agricultural products to the processed foods students see on store shelves. The video covers several key scientific themes, including states of matter, chemical changes, and the biological origins of common ingredients. Viewers learn about the difference between sucrose and glucose, how gelatin acts as a structural agent derived from animal collagen, and the surprising source of the shiny coating on many candies—shellac, which comes from the secretions of lac bugs. The narrative frames these potentially "gross" facts as cool scientific discoveries about how we minimize waste and use natural resources. For educators, this video serves as an engaging hook for lessons on food science, chemistry, or Halloween-themed activities. It provides a practical application for learning about mixtures, solutions, and reversibility of states of matter (melting and solidifying gelatin). It also offers opportunities for discussions about where our food comes from, reading nutrition labels, and critical thinking about how raw materials are transformed into manufactured goods.