> Thinking of the chocolate candies known as M & Ms, in 1995 the tan M & Ms werereplaced by which other color?And the answer: blue. Photo courtesy: Urbano Delvalle/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images.In 1995,the Mars candy company held a contest, asking fans to vote on which color wouldreplace the tan-colored M&Ms. Voters could choose from blue, pink, and purple,and blue was declared the winner. Seven years later, another contest was held,and purple was added to the mix.While M&Ms today are a beloved candy for children and adults across the globe,they began as a unique business venture: founder Forrest Mars sought to create asnack that wouldn't melt for troops fighting in the Spanish Civil War. After adisagreement with Frank Mars, his father and founder of the brand, Forrestpacked up and moved to England, where he began manufacturing Mars bars fortroops. He soon realized that a chocolate candy resistant to melting, such asthose encased in a chocolate shell, would be easier to eat in summer months andless of a hassle. Coordinating with Bruce Murrie of Hershey's, Mars sought apartnership that would ensure a steady supply of resources needed to produce hisnew candy during the shortages of World War II. M&Ms (Mars & Murrie) were born.Since their inception, M&Ms have made history a number of times. During WorldWar II, the candy was exclusively sold to the U.S. military, enabling theheat-resistant and easy-to-transport chocolate to be included in Americansoldiers’ rations. Some decades later, M&Ms were the first candy to be broughtto space. The same qualities that made the snack perfect for wartime consumptionalso allowed them to travel well into zero-gravity conditions. Did you know?From 1976 to 1987, there were no red M&Ms! A study released in the early 70slinked red no. 2, a popular food dye, to cancer. Although M&Ms didn't actuallyuse the dye, Mars removed the candy to prevent confusion. Due to popular demand,red M&Ms returned in '87.