Ayds Weight-Loss Candy
Status: Real
On Google video there are a couple of commercials from the early 80s touting a weight-loss product called Ayds. (An Ayds radio commercial can be heard here.) The name of the product is so unfortunate, that it makes the ads sound like Saturday Night Live skits, with lines such as: "Ayds helps you control your appetite so you lose weight... Why take diet pills when you can enjoy Ayds?... Ayds helps you lose weight safely and effectively!"However, the ads are totally real, as was the product. Many of you might even remember it (though I don't). Ayds was an appetite-suppressant candy that came in chocolate, butterscotch and caramel flavors. During the 70s it was one of the top-selling weight-loss products. But then along came AIDS. In 1983 Time Magazine reported retailers as saying that "the disease is not hurting the product... Ayds sales have never been better." However, by 1988 the Associated Press was reporting that Ayds sales were down 50 percent, because of the similarity between its name and AIDS. This prompted the maker of the candy to change its name to Diet Ayds. The AP reported "Dep chairman Robert Berglass told the AP the company wanted to soften the name without completely changing it and losing identification. Sales were moving back up, he said, but he was reluctant to predict a full recovery." Evidently the candy didn't make a recovery, but I can't find any record of exactly when it ceased being sold.
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Categories: Food Posted by Alex on Tue Feb 21, 2006 |
Comments (86) |
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I used to work for Kraft in Kendallville IN during the mid 80's. We used to make AYDs candy on our caramel line. It was pretty interesting stuff and contained an amphetamine if I recall. After watching miles and miles of caramel being churned out, I got pretty sick of eating anything that even remotely reminded me of the stuff.
Posted by Karl on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 04:22 PM
if my memory serves, AYDS contained: Phenalpropanalimine HCI, Diphenhydramine HCI, and Ephedrine Sulfate. But, I could be wrong, cuz I drank a lot of an experimental pre-sweetened drink called Brisk that contained cyclamates, primarily because my Dad worked for Gen. Foods, and brought it home in buckets. Did I mention that he invented the Good Seasons salad cruet and strawberry-banana jello? True
Posted by Hairy Houdini on Thu Jul 26, 2007 at 04:49 PM
My mom used ayds when I was a kid. I dont think they helped her. If they helped anyone lose weight it was probably the placebo effect that did it. (placebo = power of suggestion)
Posted by Topflightgraphics on Tue Oct 23, 2007 at 02:11 PM
I occatonally used the Ayds candy in the sixtys and had great results with the product. Please start selling them again. I would be your number 1 customer.
Posted by Estella Menchaca on Thu Jan 03, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I remember ayds weight loss candy because my mother use to take them and i do use to sneak in to them and i think they really help me to curb my abitie and i would love to them them come back, they never bother me, and i really like them and the tast,
Posted by Barbara ( TUNKS) stone on Wed Jan 09, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Cool stuff, as long as it works lol.
Posted by Nick on Sat Mar 08, 2008 at 02:47 PM
About the only thing MORE unfortunate than this, is the fact that there's a town called Nambla in the country of India (Nambla, India). To that person says it's silly to no longer call it Ayds just because of the disease... doesn't mean new companies are willing to create the next anti-whatever (anti-allergy, anti-asthma) and call it Nambla or Boylove. lol
So, I suggest everybody get out there and get Ayds and die(t)! 😉
Posted by NTV/NAT Group, Ltd. on Wed May 07, 2008 at 11:31 PM
So, I suggest everybody get out there and get Ayds and die(t)! 😉
I don't believe in taking up pills for weight loss. Anyway one day it will end up in some side effects.
Posted by Climent on Tue May 13, 2008 at 11:58 PM
I remember a commercial for AYDS candy during the early 80's "Lose Weight With AYDS". (You sure do..no pun Intended) Obviously not a good marketing strategy during a time when the disease AIDS was running rampant.
Posted by Babushka Tushyitchsky on Tue May 20, 2008 at 02:07 PM
I don't remember the product. There is so much you can put in candy now.
Posted by Candy Vending Man on Sun May 25, 2008 at 09:43 PM
In my late 20s and early 30s I would eat AYDS between meals if I was hungry and they really did work. I loved them. I would give anything if I could find them now. I can't believe they don't make them any more. They curbed my appetite, tasted great, and they tasted like real candy, not diet. Can we get them anywhere?
Posted by CJS in Texas on Tue May 27, 2008 at 05:29 PM
I too wish I could still buy Ayds. I lost 3stone 4lbs in 1971 using Ayds and a sensible diet. It was 20 years before the weight starting creeping back on again. Now I need them again - this is the only thing that has ever really worked for me. If they made them again I would be the first customer. Who can we write to to suggest they start manufacturing them, or something similar, again?
Posted by Christine Davies on Sun Jun 22, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Well, i believe that it is better to lose weight via the proper way
Posted by jason geek on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:19 AM
sorry I don't remember AYDS Candy well
Posted by edo on Sat Aug 02, 2008 at 03:12 AM
I"ve used the Ayda Weight Loss Candy years ago and got amazing results.I want to start using it again.How much is Ayds Weight Loss Candy?Where can I buy it?
Posted by Lori Hager on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 06:27 PM
Please bring back Ayds.I had such good luck with it.It really helped me control my appetite and loose weight.
Posted by Lori Hager on Wed Aug 20, 2008 at 07:26 AM
I too remember this product and I absolutely loved it as a teen. And it did work in my opinion .. in fact it was the only safe feeling suppressant that i felt good about taking. Now was there anything ever about what it contains being bad for you?
I wish I knew. Im gonna research this and see if any diet supplementary companys have anything like this out. I cant take anything that has caffiene or energy boost as with high blood pressure you cant take certain things.
Dont think id by that box on ebay tho .. may be outdated * wink
Posted by Dee on Thu Aug 28, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I wish I knew. Im gonna research this and see if any diet supplementary companys have anything like this out. I cant take anything that has caffiene or energy boost as with high blood pressure you cant take certain things.
Dont think id by that box on ebay tho .. may be outdated * wink
Nice product. i haven't come across such item. i like to have a try. where can i purchase it?
Posted by Rathna on Fri Sep 26, 2008 at 01:39 AM
:-) I just found this site. I am sharing this article with my Better Body Group.
Posted by Sue on Sun Sep 28, 2008 at 04:17 PM
I remember AYDS from my early teen years; I remember, more than the radio ads, the magazine ads. They were stories about people who had lost weight using AYDS. The thing I remember was that you were suppose to eat 2 AYDS before a meal, along with a hot beverage such as hot tea or coffee. As an adult, I now know that these were very similar to caramal candies and that sipping the hot beverage made the caramal espand in your stomach, which would make you feel less hungry. I don't know if they really worked; I think my sister and I bought a box once.
Posted by Leslie on Sun Oct 05, 2008 at 02:03 AM
I used Ayds years ago, and they really worked. I lost weight and kept it off for a while. There are celeb ads from the 40's-60's and ads with regular people telling tales of great weight loss with the product. These ads ran in countless magazines from the 60s-80s.
I really wish a company would bring them back, all the flavors, with a new name. The TrimSpa chocolate chews taste awful, and although they do help curb my appetite, I haven't been on them long enough to see any significant weight loss (less than 2 weeks.)
Besides that, Trimspa filed bankruptcy so their products are no longer in production, and only existing stock is available, and some people are really ripping consumers off with outrageous prices for those awful tasting "candies." Ayds were 1000 times better.
Posted by Crafty Matthew on Tue Jan 20, 2009 at 01:40 AM
I really wish a company would bring them back, all the flavors, with a new name. The TrimSpa chocolate chews taste awful, and although they do help curb my appetite, I haven't been on them long enough to see any significant weight loss (less than 2 weeks.)
Besides that, Trimspa filed bankruptcy so their products are no longer in production, and only existing stock is available, and some people are really ripping consumers off with outrageous prices for those awful tasting "candies." Ayds were 1000 times better.
I WISH YOU WOULD COME BACK WITH IT,
JUST CHANGE THE NAME YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.
PLEASE WE NEED THE HELP
BEKY
Posted by BECKY VALENTIN on Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 12:54 PM
JUST CHANGE THE NAME YOU ARE GOOD TO GO.
PLEASE WE NEED THE HELP
BEKY
Thanks for clearing this up! And I recognized on the significance present in the site.
Technology amazes me particularly when I imagine of what it will be like they reach the old age! But applying this is much far better
Posted by Tom on Mon Feb 02, 2009 at 03:47 AM
Technology amazes me particularly when I imagine of what it will be like they reach the old age! But applying this is much far better
I am getting notifications of replies to this discussion that have nOTHING to do with Ayds, and are not even showing up when I click on the link to come to the discussion.
Posted by Crafty Matthew on Thu Feb 05, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Matthew, they would be spam messages. Which are usually deleted by moderators.
Posted by Smerk on Fri Feb 06, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I recall my Mother and Aunts all using Ayds. Some were not even overweight,it was just trendy and cool to use them.It was "THE THING" if you wanted to maintain or lose weight.A couple of my Aunts lost a good amount of weight using the product. They tasted great,as I sneaked them,like many other kids and bought some when I was a teen.I wasn't overweight at all,but I thought they would prevent me from doing so.They did supress the appetite. If this company were to bring these back,there is no doubt they would make a fortune!
Posted by Mel on Wed Mar 18, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Get active. If you have a tread mill try watching tv while speed walking or working up a sweat. Try doing 30 push ups in between commercial breaks, keep your body guessing and keep your body stressing!
Posted by Fast weight lose on Fri May 01, 2009 at 11:02 AM
weight loss candy? the answer to my prayers! whatever next? i hope they'll bring out a weight loss icecream too hehe.
Posted by Baby Products on Sat Jun 13, 2009 at 01:07 PM
I remember Ayds extremely well. I used to take them in the 70's. Boy how great it would be if they were still available. To bad the manufacturer doesn't read all the comments above and maybe they might just start selling them again. I would be the first one to buy as many as I can. They worked then and I am sure they would work now.
Posted by Karlos San Pedro on Sat Jul 04, 2009 at 02:29 AM
yes, benzocaine was the "active ingredient" in AYDS that would cause you to lose weight...
they also cut cocaine with benzocaine. this is why when you snort it, it numbs the back of your throat, nose and tongue. so in essence, if you wanted to lose weight fast...just score an 8-ball. sure, it could also kill you...so can AIDS.
there's also that illegal part as well.
here's a side note...remember, they used to put trace amounts of cocaine in coca-cola (hence the coca...)
Posted by this other guy on Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 04:21 PM
they also cut cocaine with benzocaine. this is why when you snort it, it numbs the back of your throat, nose and tongue. so in essence, if you wanted to lose weight fast...just score an 8-ball. sure, it could also kill you...so can AIDS.
there's also that illegal part as well.
here's a side note...remember, they used to put trace amounts of cocaine in coca-cola (hence the coca...)
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