If you grew up in 20th-century Philadelphia, you know that Goldenberg's Peanut Chews were a candy-aisle staple. Peanut Chews were developed during World War I and used by the U.S. military as a ration bar. The high-energy, high-protein recipe, consisting of roasted peanuts and molasses covered in dark chocolate, made it popular with the troops.
In 2003, the Goldenberg family sold the line to Just Born, a third-generation family-owned candy manufacturer in the Lehigh Valley. Despite that change, Peanut Chews continue to be made at a plant in Northeast Philadelphia. Just Born's other candies - Mike and Ike (as a namesake of sorts, I've always been partial to these), Hot Tamales, Peeps marshmallow candies and Teenee Beanee jelly beans - are manufactured in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The modified food starch that Just Born uses in its jelly bean-type candies is corn starch, and the company is in the process of updating its package labels to reflect that its products are gluten free.
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