# Why dont they sell bags of just red Starburst? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 7, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211 "2001-08-07T01:17:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/21 "2001-08-07T17:12:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frinkboy \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by johnson \* > > > > While we’re (sort of) on the topic, is it just me or are Mars bars different and much better in Britain? > > \*\* > I noticed the same thing about Snickers Bars in the Netherlands. Much better than the ones here. I guess they just take their chocolate more seriously in Europe. > > \*\* They actually _do_ take their chocolate more seriously in Europe. Quite a bit so. There have been Import wars between Britain and the Continent off and on for some time over the exact defintion of chocolate, ie, cocoa content, butterfat content, etc. Also, IIRC, the E.U. doesn’t allow stuff which Americans call chocolate to be called chocolate because of some of the preservatives/emulsifiers which are used. And the **Red** flavours are the best, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/22 "2001-08-07T17:12:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by frinkboy \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by johnson \* > > \*\* > > While we’re (sort of) on the topic, is it just me or are Mars bars different and much better in Britain? > > > > \*\* > > I noticed the same thing about Snickers Bars in the Netherlands. Much better than the ones here. I guess they just take their chocolate more seriously in Europe. > > Also…even Coke tasted better in Holland. I usually have to put tons of ice in my Coke here in the US. Over there, I was able to drink it straight. I later found out that in Europe (or this particular bottler) uses _sugar_ instead of _corn syrup_ > > was this a bit off topic…sorry. Yeah…I love red starbusts! \*\* Johnson - I think Frinkboy is onto the right reasoning; taking into account the different naming conventions of certain candy brands (e.g., when I lived in Scotland, they called what Americans call a “Snickers” a “Marathon” bar). If we are talking about the same type of candy bar, the difference is what regulators will allow for chocolate or other ingredients (like Frinkboy’s example with Coke; IIRC, in the US, apparently afficionados love some form of Kosher Coke because it uses better ingredients). For example: The FDA (in the US) demands a larger % of paraffin (!) in chocolate so it meets shelf-life requirements; not surprisingly, US-made chocolate simply doesn’t taste as good. My cite: I wrote Cadbury while living in Scotland to find out why their Dairy Milk bars tasted so much better in the UK and that’s what they replied back with… As for the OP - it was touched on, but I would assume the main reasons that we can’t normally get all-one-flavor packs of certain candies is due to a combination of: 1. The maker can’t afford to make that many varieties and/or pay the “slotting fees” to stores to make room for the larger number of shelf slots (it can be VERY pricy) 2. They tested the concepts and sales were insufficient 3. No one has thought of the idea, or tested it enough - think about when stodgy old Mars FINALLY developed flanking brands of M&Ms (with Peanut Butter, Almonds, Crispies, etc…) or when Oreos came out with Mini’s, Double Stuff, etc…a flanking brand approach is “thinking out of the box” for some companies, and they simply don’t consider it - they don’t want to jeopardize the power of their brand…or their internal processes tend to squelch those ideas before they can be acted upon… ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/23 "2001-08-07T17:23:56Z")
**WordMan** , nice simulpost! Downright eerie, since we were even almost saying the same thing. And I think you’re onto something with the first reason for not having single flavour Starburst packets. Only so much shelfspace, you know. Starburst has done flankers with tropical flavours as well. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/24 "2001-08-07T17:28:01Z")
Yep, Shibb (does your name mean that you are the embodiment of the test for “in” ness vs. “out” ness?) - definite congruence there. You’re right - Starbursts (BTW, called Opal Fruits in UK during my time there) also have flanking products - now with jelly beans, gum drops and others, too… WordMan ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/25 "2001-08-07T17:38:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WordMan \* > \*\*Yep, Shibb (does your name mean that you are the embodiment of the test for “in” ness vs. “out” ness?) - definite congruence there. > > WordMan \*\* My name was just the first word that popped into my head when I hit that field in the registration screen. I guess I was thinking that it would be a test of acceptance or rejection into the SMDB. BTW, when I see your name I get the tune for “SpoonMan” from _Sound Garden_ stuck in my head. [sub]_…all my friends are brown and red…[/sub]_ ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/26 "2001-08-07T18:01:09Z")
Close, Shibb (although no complaints, I love both Soundgarden and the tune - gotta love 7/8 time…) the nickname is from “Eddie and the Cruisers” - it’s what Eddie calls Tom Berenger’s characters /end of mutual nickname love-fest… ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2001, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211/27 "2001-08-07T19:06:15Z")
**Wordman** , the coke you’re referring to is Kosher for Passover Coke. It’s available around 2 weeks before passover (that’s usually near easter, for the goyim in the audience) ;j . Corn is forbidden during passover, so coke makes special batches of coke (and sprite) with sugar instead of corn syrup for the holiday. Look for the yellow caps. I personally don’t taste much of a difference, but did notice the coke in France and the UK took some getting used to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-they-sell-bags-of-just-red-starburst/75211.md?page=1)