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Nothing Says Delicious Chocolaty Goodness Like AIDS

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Videos | Comments (10)

852blog_ayds.gif

Clearly, the worst name for a candy in the history of mankind, Ayds — an appetite suppressant candy — enjoyed strong sales for much of the 1970s and 80s, until — alas — that other AIDS came along. At that point, the Campana Company decided to change the name to Diet Ayds.

Strangely, that didn’t work either. Hmph. The candy was eventually pulled, although I’m surprised it wasn’t discontinued much earlier, as its original active ingredient was benzocaine, the active ingredient in Blistex (and in certain condoms designed to keep you going longer by dulling sensation in your penis). Thirty years later, and on the heels of a medical breakthrough in AIDS research, it makes for one hell of an amusing look back.

Fun Fact: Ayds was available in chocolate, chocolate mint, butterscotch or caramel flavors. Try it, today!


(Hat Tip: The Princely GP)










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Comments

I remember my mom having this stuff stocked up in the house when I was a tweener. Worst. Candy. Ever.

[Yes, I know there's worse.]

Posted by: Meander at December 15, 2010 3:00 PM

OMG I totes remember those. They were awful, anyway. Grody.

Posted by: Anna von Beav at December 15, 2010 3:02 PM

The best, via Wikipedia:

"By the mid-1980s, public awareness of the disease AIDS caused problems for the brand due to the phonetic similarity of names.

The product's name was changed to Diet Ayds, but eventually it was withdrawn from the market."

Way to re-brand, assholes.

Posted by: Paul Southworth at December 15, 2010 3:07 PM

I remember my mom using those, with little success. The caramel ones were pretty good. You were supposed to eat two, with coffee or tea, an hour before dinner to suppress appetite. Hah. Just the hot drink would do to fill you up before hitting the dinner table.

Posted by: nat at December 15, 2010 3:13 PM

Oh, man, I'm ashamed but a little nostalgic--hadn't thought of these bad tasting, ineffective things in a Long Time. I bought several boxes but didn't have the discipline to use as directed.

Posted by: EllenP at December 15, 2010 3:36 PM

I heard that these are how Subway's Jared lost all that weight.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at December 15, 2010 3:47 PM

I remember Ayds.

I also remember Carter's Little Liver Pills. What liver had to do with them, I'll never know, which is why the FDA told them to drop the Liver from their name.

Posted by: BWeaves at December 15, 2010 6:08 PM

Glad I'm not the only one to remember these. "Lose weight, with the aid of AYDS!" Worst. Slogan. EVER.

Posted by: Edith at December 15, 2010 10:26 PM

...the product's name was changed to Diet Ayds...

Same great taste as regular AIDS, but now with fewer calories!

Posted by: PissBoy at December 16, 2010 8:50 AM

You know what the saddest part of that commercial is? That the woman is excited to be size 10 again. A ten, people. Nowadays, that would be fucking obese in Hollywoodland.

I realize that sizes are different now, since every retail company employs "vanity sizing," and so a ten then is more like an 8 or a 6 now, but still.

Can you imagine some washed-up actress in a Jenny Craig ad being excited about getting down to a 10? Now if you don't make it to a 2 you're a failure. Sad times.

Posted by: Kristobel at December 16, 2010 1:03 PM