Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Luden's Cherry Cough Drops: Medicine or Candy?

Luden's Wild Cherry Cough Drops have perplexed me since I was a child. Is it really a medicine?? I mean, I know that is what it is marketed as, but it is also one of the greatest candies I have ever had. Here are the arguments I would make for and against it being a medicine, like they claim:




WHY THEY COULD BE CANDY
  • They are delicious. The only "medicine" that even came close to being palatable was that bubble-gum strep throat liquid you got as a kid and Flinstone's vitamins - neither of which are even in the same ballpark as Luden's Wild Cherry Throat Drops (Purple Dino's come closest).
  • I am not 100% sure they have ever actually improved my throat condition. In fact, in some instances, they actually made me feel worse after snacking on them for 20 minutes. I am pretty sure one of the main goals of medicine is to improve a pre-existing problem, the only thing Luden's improves is my level of satisfaction.
  • I can eat a few without throwing-up violently (Although, some candies do cause this - Bubble Tape).
  • Halls tastes like medicine. Luden's tastes like a bank lollipop.

WHY THEY COULD BE MEDICINE

  • They contain 1.7mg of Pectin, which is about 1.7mg more Pectin than any other candy I eat. I also have no idea what Pectin is.
  • They come with directions. Most candy I eat doesn't come with directions (Minus - Fun Dip).
  • I am to stop use if throat redness persists, I don't have to do this with other candy (Sidenote to Luden's: The drops are red. Might want to change that)

2 comments:

Bobby said...

candy.

John Zoppina said...

Newman--

Pectin is a thickening agent used in Starbucks' Frappucinos!

-John