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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Money & Work • Food

Whoppers

Whoppers are malted milk ball candies produced by The Hershey Company.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Whoppers are malted milk ball candies produced by Hershey, featuring a crunchy malted centre and a chocolate-flavoured coating. They are widely available in Canada as a classic North American confection.

What it is

Whoppers are spherical candies made from a crisp malted milk centre covered in a sweet, chocolatey coating. The main ingredients include sugar, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated palm kernel oil, whey, malted milk, and cocoa. A 10-piece pouch contains 100 calories, according to Hershey.

Why it matters

The candy originated in 1939 as “Giants” from the Overland Candy Company, was renamed Whoppers by Leaf Brands in 1949, and Hershey acquired the brand in 1996. Despite the name, Whoppers are unrelated to Burger King’s hamburger. In Canada, they are sold by major retailers as a familiar treat.

Key details

Whoppers contain milk and wheat-derived ingredients, including barley-based malted milk, so they are not vegan and are generally not considered gluten-free. The candy is still in production and available in various package sizes.

In short

  • Whoppers are malted milk ball candies, not hamburgers.
  • Introduced in 1939 as Giants, renamed Whoppers in 1949.
  • Hershey acquired the brand in 1996.
  • Contains milk and wheat; not suitable for vegan or gluten-free diets.
Canadian angle

Whoppers are widely sold in Canada through major confectionery retailers and are recognizable as a classic North American candy brand.

Quick questions

What are Whoppers?
Whoppers are malted milk ball candies made by Hershey, with a crunchy malted centre and a chocolate-flavoured coating.
Whoppers Burger King vs candy
Burger King’s Whopper is a hamburger; Whoppers candy is a malted milk ball confection. They are different products with unrelated ingredients and uses.
Are Whoppers vegetarian?
Whoppers contain milk-derived ingredients such as whey and malted milk, so they are not vegan. Some vegetarians may consider them acceptable depending on their dietary rules.

Sources

  1. The Hershey Company — https://www.hersheyland.com/whoppers
    Supports: Product description, ingredients, calories, and introduction history.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whoppers
    Supports: Origins as Giants, rebranding to Whoppers, and ownership history.
  3. SnackHistory — https://www.snackhistory.com/whoppers/
    Supports: Historical overview of the candy's naming and reintroduction.