Bethlehem, PA We employ more than 600 associates, most of whom are at our world headquarters and candy factory in Bethlehem, PA, where we produce PEEPS®, MIKE AND IKE® and HOT TAMALES® Candies.

As ingredients go, Peeps seem pretty innocuous. The big three are sugar, corn syrup (I.e., more sugar) and gelatin. They contain less than half a percent of food coloring, potassium sorbate (a preservative), natural flavors and carnauba wax.

PEEPS® Fun Facts Just Born produces enough PEEPS® Brand Marshmallow Candies in one year to circle the earth twice. In the late 1950s PEEPS® wings were “clipped” to give them a sleek, modern look. PEEPS® Brand Candies have been the #1 non-chocolate brand at Easter for more than 20 years*.

Peeps are a marshmallow confection marketed since 1953 in the United States and Canada in the shape of chicks, bunnies, and other animals as well as holiday shapes produced by Pennsylvania-headquartered Just Born Quality Confections.

While Peeps are obviously meant for eating, their role as a festive treat is not the only reason people love them. The marshmallows have carved out a niche as a source of experimentation for the young and the young at heart. One of the most popular Peeps experiments is also one of the simplest.

In 1953, Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Co., which originally made the candy we know as Peeps -- but with wings. The family expanded in the 1950s and '60s. Shapes and flavors are available for seasonal themes such as Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day.

1953 5: Back in 1953, when Peeps were first introduced, each Peeps Marshmallow Chick took 27 hours to make by hand using a pastry tube. Today, thanks to technology, it takes about six minutes to be produced.

Peep, peek, peer mean to look through, over, or around something. To peep or peek is usually to give a quick look through a narrow aperture or small opening, often furtively, slyly, or pryingly, or to look over or around something curiously or playfully: to peep over a wall; to peek into a room.

Review: The thing that makes Peeps so good is their ability to be light and sugary at the same time, which is a combination that doesn't actually come around as often as you'd think.

Consumer Reports called out several Peeps candies as containing the dye that it said is "a known carcinogen," according to a Monday news release from the nonprofit.

Yellow chicks are the original Peep, and still the favorite. Yellow bunnies are the second most popular color/shape combination.

1950s and '60s: The Peeps family expands In addition to the chicks that are popular during Easter, shapes and flavors were created to meet seasonal themes such as Halloween, Christmas and Valentine's Day. Bunny Peeps weren't added until the 1980s.

PERSONAL EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLANS (PEEPs)

In 1953, Just Born acquired Rodda Candy Co., which originally made the candy we know as Peeps – but with wings. The original marshmallow chicks were more labor-intensive, requiring manually squeezing marshmallow paste out of pastry tubes. The original Peeps had wings.