PEZ Mints: Designed to Quit SmokingA familiar thumb mechanism hides an unexpected adult past.

From the show

The Secret Life of Objects

This iconic childhood candy dispenser was originally engineered to mimic a cigarette lighter. Austrian advocate Eduard Haas III created the mints in 1927 to help adults overcome tobacco addiction, later adding a mechanical device to satisfy a smoker's physical habits. When the product flopped with adults, the company pivoted by adding cartoon characters. This simple aesthetic shift completely transformed the target demographic, turning an adult cessation aid into a beloved toy.