I tried this:
My M&M candies are misprinted with "W"s. Are they safe to eat or are they counterfeit?
ChatGPT
Summary
Those are almost certainly normal, safe M&M’s 
The white “m” printed on plain M&M’s looks exactly like a “W” when the candy is rotated 180 degrees. There’s no “correct” orientation when they’re printed, so depending on how you’re holding them, some will look like W’s.
A few things that suggest they’re genuine:
- The font looks correct and cleanly printed
- The candy shells have the typical glossy finish
- The cross-section (like the bitten one in your photo) shows the normal chocolate structure
Counterfeit candy is extremely rare in regular retail settings, and misprints usually involve smudging or partial letters—not swapping letters entirely. In this case, it’s just the letter “m” upside down.
If they were purchased sealed from a normal store and the packaging looked legitimate, they’re almost certainly fine to eat.
Copilot
Summary
Short version: They’re almost certainly real M&M’s, and they’re safe to eat.
Here’s what’s going on:
Why the “W” happens
The iconic m on an M&M is printed with a tiny white stamp. If the candy rotates during printing, or the stamp hits at a slight angle, the letter can appear as:
- W
- E
- 3
- a sideways m
It’s one of the most common misprints the company produces. Mars (the manufacturer) has even acknowledged that imperfect or rotated stamps are normal and not a safety issue.
Are counterfeit M&M’s a thing?
Counterfeit branded chocolate exists in some parts of the world, but it’s extremely rare in the U.S. and usually involves:
- suspicious packaging
- off textures or smells
- inconsistent shapes
- missing allergen labeling
Your candies look like standard M&M’s with a rotated or partial stamp, which is totally normal.
Safety
A misprinted letter does not affect safety. As long as:
- the candies came from sealed, normal packaging
- they look and smell like typical M&M’s
- there’s no unusual residue or damage
…they’re fine to eat.
If you want, I can help you check for any other signs of authenticity or quality issues, but based on what you’ve shown, they look like the real deal.
Gemini
Summary
Don’t panic! Your M&Ms are almost certainly safe to eat and definitely not counterfeit.
What you’re seeing is actually a very common “optical illusion” of sorts caused by how the candies tumble in the bag.
Why the “W”?
The “m” on M&M candies is printed on one side using a vegetable-grade ink. Because the candies are spherical and free-floating in the packaging:
- Rotation: Many of them simply landed upside down in your hand or for the photo.
- Orientation: If you rotate that red or blue candy 180 degrees, the “W” will magically transform back into the classic “m.”
Is it possible they are “Misprints”?
Even if you find one where the letter is off-center or slightly smeared, it’s a common occurrence in high-speed manufacturing. Mars (the parent company) produces millions of these a day, and the printing process isn’t always 100% centered.
How to tell if they are “Off”
While the “W” is just a matter of perspective, you should only be concerned if:
- The packaging was tampered with: Holes, tears, or strange resealing.
- The Smell/Taste: They have a chemical or “off” odor (other than chocolate).
- The Texture: They are excessively sticky or have a strange residue that isn’t sugar-based.
Based on the photo, these look like perfectly normal Pretzel M&Ms (indicated by the larger, irregular shape and the crunchy center shown in the cross-section).
Would you like me to find a recipe that uses Pretzel M&Ms, or perhaps check the current expiration date format for Mars candies so you can double-check the bag?
Grok
Summary
The M&M’s candies you’re describing—with the “W” imprint instead of the usual “m”—are almost certainly genuine and safe to eat (assuming no other issues like odd taste, smell, or damage, and no personal allergies).
This appears to be a known printing error/misprint that has occurred occasionally in production. Genuine M&M’s have had rare cases of upside-down or misaligned “m” imprints that look like a “W” (since flipping the candy over turns a lowercase “m” into something resembling a “W”). People have posted about finding these on social media (e.g., Reddit threads joking about flipping them to make it “look like an M”), and there are even collectible-style listings for misprinted ones online. There’s no evidence of widespread counterfeits using “W” as a deliberate fake logo—counterfeit candies usually involve cheaper chocolate, wrong colors, poor shell quality, or obvious packaging fakes rather than subtle letter swaps.
Recent news about M&M recalls (in early 2026) relates to repackaged/promotional bags missing proper allergen labels (milk, soy, peanuts) on the outer packaging—not issues with the candies themselves or their imprints. The candy inside those recalls was still described as normal and safe (taste unaffected), but the recall was purely for labeling compliance. Nothing in those reports ties to “W” misprints being unsafe or fake.
If your bag looks otherwise normal (official Mars packaging, correct colors, standard size/feel), it’s likely just a quirky factory oops from real production. Enjoy them—they’re probably the same delicious ones as always!
If you’re still unsure (e.g., the bag seems off-brand or the chocolate tastes weird), you could contact Mars consumer support with a photo for confirmation, but based on available info, there’s no reason to think they’re counterfeit or unsafe.
