how do they stamp the 'm' on every m&m sweet?

Answer 1

M&M's are sent to China where child labor laws are lax and labor is cheap.

However, according the The Straight Dope website,
(1) Ms are applied to M&Ms en masse using a process "akin to offset printing." (Actually, I would have guessed it was more like flexography, which involves a flexible printing plate, but Hans says no.) The "ink" is a simple vegetable dye. Blank M&Ms are run through the printing press on a special conveyor belt with rows of dimples on it--indentations, actually--to hold the little guys in place. The real trick, Hans says, is calibrating the press so it won't smash the peanuts. (Peanuts, being a natural product, are given to some variation of dimension.) As is my habit in these matters, I promised I wouldn't reveal the secret to the world, but believe me, you'd be amazed.

Answer 2

As explained by the company itself, the “m’s” are printed using a process close to offset printing, using vegetable dye as the ink. Little blank pellets of candy are passed along a conveyor belt with rows of indentations on it – holding them in position – for printing. Anatomy of a Peanut M&M.The hardest part in the process is not the act of printing itself, but to configure the machine and enable it to stamp the candy without any breakage as well. This is categorically tougher with the peanut range, as nuts come in variable shapes and sizes. Compensation of this shortcoming is done by adjusting the “creamy milk chocolate” layer (see diagram) to a standard dimension, making each candy – more or less – similarly sized.

I always thought some ‘Oompa Loompas’ wrote the “m’s” on the candies. Guess that theory will now be laid to rest...

Answer 3

First, the milk-chocolate centers are formed in a machine and tumbled into a rounded shape. The various flavored M&Ms get a nut or other center with chocolate added around it. Then, the centers are coated in a process known as "panning," where they're rotated in a revolving pan while a coating made of sugar and corn syrup is added.

Finally, the delicate "m" imprinting happens. According to Mars Inc., maker of M&Ms, a specially designed machine stamps the "m" on each piece of candy. The machine is carefully calibrated so it won't crack the thin candy shells. The company calls the procedure "similar to offset printing."

The ink used for the "m" is made of food-grade ingredients. You can even get M&Ms custom printed with your own text, although the "m" will appear on the other side.

In 1940, the original M&Ms didn't have any printing on them. The "m" was introduced a decade later, in honor of creator Forrest Mars Sr.. Originally, the "m" was in black ink, but it switched to white in 1954.

Answer 4

Good question, you know that every M&M is painstakenly hand painted??? Mars, Inc tends to employ elderly ladies with teriffic penmanship........I'm kidding, of course, I saw a documentary on the Food Channel about themaking of M&M's and they make like 70 billion (that's a LOT) a year, and the process by which they're decorated with the M&M logo is a secret, but I'm guessing that it's done by optical airbrushing with a quick drying edible paint (read: food dye) Here's one for ya..........in the late 70's, all the red M&M's were taken out of cirrculation due to the panic back then about FDC Red Dye # 40 as being a possible carcinogen (a cancer causing agent) but due to public outcry, they replaced the # 40 with a more FDA acceptable food grade dye.......Enjoy!!!

Christopher

Answer 5

Some poor soul sits on a conveyor belt and as each m+m goes by they gently stamp it and they're also forced to listen to abba songs all day.
I once new someone who worked in a biscuit factory and they were a 'biscuit pricker', the bits that fell through were used to make the next batch of biscuits.[true]

Answer 6

It's the work of the oompa loompas'
they got the job when the chocolate facotry shut down and moved to asia

=D

Answer 7

They turn the sweet upside down and stamp it with a 'W'.

Answer 8

the sameway the chickens date the egg's and stamp with the lion mark !

Answer 9

With a small stam using small people (midgets). It's very expensive that's why they charge so much for m&m's.

Answer 10

they use wee tiny midgets with huge paint airbrushes