# Puzzle that has stumped me **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 23, 2000, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268 "2000-03-23T10:14:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/1 "2000-03-23T10:14:00Z")
Why are the yellow starbursts harder than the other colored ones? I mean… really they’re harder to chew… I don’t know why I want a real valid… explination. HELLP!! I might get a date if i answer this right! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/2 "2000-03-23T10:34:00Z")
A little [obsessed](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum3/HTML/006831.html) with Starburst, aren’t you? * * * When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, pee in it, and serve it to the people that piss you off. ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/3 "2000-03-23T10:50:00Z")
following me eh? Not really obbsessed I’m just trying to solve a puzzle really… I’m rather… Interested in getting the date with the girl 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/4 "2000-03-23T10:51:00Z")
IIRC, FDA approved Yellow #2 is in paste form, where as most other approved industrial food colorings are liquid. Quite possibly, the difference in texture is due to the more viscus coloring used in the lemon Starburst candies. Of course this difference would only be noticed by the most obsessive of candy fiends. May I direct you to the “Willy Wonka” thread so you may associate with more of your ilk. * * * Voted **Best Sport** And narrowly averted the despised moniker **Smiley Master** Forward deployed until 18AUG00 ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/5 "2000-03-23T11:23:00Z")
actually they used yellow number 5 and 6… i looked… I dunno… can i get a better answer? I really want a good technical answer… that doesn’t sound like bullshit at all. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/6 "2000-03-23T15:23:00Z")
Well, here’s a suggestion: Try doing some actual _research_. Call, write or e-mail M&M/Mars or Hersheys or whoever the hell it is that makes Starburst and ask them. It doesn’t look like anybody 'round here knows this off the top of their head. Looks like somebody’s gonna have to investigate. Since you’re the one who stands to get a date – why shouldn’t you do the work? * * * Plunging like stones from a slingshot on Mars. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/7 "2000-03-23T17:07:00Z")
They have more plastic in them. ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/8 "2000-03-23T17:12:00Z")
I have actually call m&m’s mars, and emailed them. I got the run around. "we’ll notifiy the quality assuarance manager. So yeah… I HAVE tried. Thats how i ended up here. I figured the more help the merrier… ---
**Author:** ![SwimmingRiddles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SwimmingRiddles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwimmingRiddles)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2000, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/9 "2000-03-23T17:20:00Z")
Yellow #9 is da bomb. My favorite coloring. Maybe the colorings they use react with the sugar, causing the sugar to crystalize more. ---
**Author:** ![ChiefScott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@ChiefScott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChiefScott)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/10 "2000-03-24T06:39:00Z")
Call M&M Mars again. Ask for the Public Relations Department. Take it from me, don’t go theough a complaint line or Customer Service (All they do is handle bitches). Do not be combative. Ask your question in an off hand manner; very non-confrontational. “You know, Mary (fictitional M&M, M PR type). I was wondering. Did you ever notice that lemon Starburt Fruit Chews are slightly harder than the other flavors? Do you know why that is?” This approach works. If the answer still isn’t technical enough, you can always eat shit instead of candy. (I gave the newbie a break. I deleted my original post which contained mentally descriptive phrases such as dick-wad and crotch-lick.) * * * Voted **Best Sport** And narrowly averted the despised moniker **Smiley Master** Forward deployed until 18AUG00 ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/11 "2000-03-24T06:48:00Z")
Well thanks. I was still hoping someone would know 🙂 I wouldn’t be combative I’m a nice guy. I’m just ‘driven’ at this point. I wanna know now. I’ve looked theres nothing on the internet. Keep the suggestions coming. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/12 "2000-03-24T00:42:00Z")
I think it’s got more to do with the schoolyard than anything, ya gotta learn to be pretty tough with a name like yellow, right? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/13 "2000-03-24T00:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by OgreFade: > Why are the yellow starbursts harder than the other colored ones? I might get a date if i answer this right! If you want a date, practice tying them in knots with your tongue instead of crunching down on them with your teet. ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/14 "2000-03-24T02:19:00Z")
How about a friend of mine is puzzled by this,… and now i am. So, I’d like to know because she wants to know. She thinks i’m resourceful. Obviously no one here gets the point. I’m not worried about impressing her, I want a technical answer that isn’t BS. Thats all. I just want to find out… just in the name of curiosity. ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/15 "2000-03-24T08:58:00Z")
Lets go people lets get on this puzzle! I need an answer ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/16 "2000-03-24T21:57:00Z")
OK, first, is it true? I just polled two people, who, by coincidence just happen to have consumed starbursts in the past 24 hours. I got two responses: They are all the same hardness. Not much difference at all–if anything, yellow is softer, except for orange and pink. * * * rocks ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/17 "2000-03-24T22:02:00Z")
Its true for the most part… if you eat alot of starburst. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/18 "2000-03-24T23:11:00Z")
I have noticed that the yellows seem to have sharper corners. My method of eating starburst is to stick them on the roof of my mouth and chew them after they’ve warmed up and softened. Except the red ones. I hate the red ones. Why o Why won’t they bring back the green ones?!?!?!? 😕 The boyfriend thinks I’m insane because of how long it takes me to eat a package of starburst, because I have to warm them all up. He also thinks I’m insane because I sort my skittles. ---
**Author:** ![OgreFade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@OgreFade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OgreFade)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/19 "2000-03-24T23:15:00Z")
Thats easy to solve… kill him… hahaha… I still need an answer folks! ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2000, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268/20 "2000-03-24T23:18:00Z")
Offhand hypothesis: Yellow Starburst are harder **in Oregon.** Discuss. * * * “In my nightmares I am chased by algorithms”–crewman Celes, ST:V [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzle-that-has-stumped-me/15268.md?page=2)