Candy name question.

warlord · Dec 7, 2005

I just found the threard about smarties so I have a mildly dumb question. If canadaians call m&m's smarties what do they all smarties? And as long as I'm asking stupid questions what's up with candian bacon?

devilbat · Dec 7, 2005

Canadians don't call M&M's smarties. They are two seperate, albeit similiar types of candies.

As for the Bacon issue, follow along.

There are two types of bacon in Canada, Side Bacon and back Bacon. The standard breakfast bacon is in actuality, side Bacon, named for where on the pig it is located. The other option, which Americans call "Canadian Bacon" is back bacon. Also named after where it is located on the pig.

The term "back bacon" saw a spike in popularity in the eighties when it was often referred to during the "Great White North" segments of the sketch comedy show SCTV.

As for why it is called Canadian Bacon, I have no clue.

mojo1701 · Dec 7, 2005

I'm gonna have to agree with my fellow Canuck there.

Oh, and that same question was asked by Kelso in an episode of "That '70s Show" where they go to Canada.

Aeson · Dec 7, 2005

Do the two bacons look different? What we call ham is often refered to as Canadian bacon by many of the pizza customers I've dealt with.

Kid Charlemagne · Dec 7, 2005

devilbat said:
Canadians don't call M&M's smarties. They are two seperate, albeit similiar types of candies.

Exactly - the same applies in Europe. Smarties are a brand of candy that is extremely similar to M&M's. I lived in France for five years (quite some tiem ago, though), and can't recall ever seeing M&M's for sale. I never saw the US candy, "Smarties" for sale. Nor can I recall seeing any candy similar to them. And this was between the ages of 8 and 13, so I was a candy connoisseur at the time...

freebfrost · Dec 7, 2005

warlord said:
And as long as I'm asking stupid questions what's up with candian bacon?

Here's what I have found:

"Around the turn of the last century (or as they say, "during the war years"), England had a pork shortage. They imported side bacon from Canada, smoked it and termed it "Wiltshire Sides" in England. Due to this event Canadian bacon was made famous. Over time the United States believed that Canadian bacon was smoked back bacon although true Canadian bacon is not smoked."

devilbat · Dec 7, 2005

Aeson said:
Do the two bacons look different? What we call ham is often refered to as Canadian bacon by many of the pizza customers I've dealt with.

Yes, they look different. Side bacon is the strips that you get for breakfast. Back bacon is usually circular, larger in size then say a pepperoni slice.

And yes, there is a coorolation between back bacon and smoked ham.