The Ridiculous Number Of Tootsie Rolls That Are Made Every Day

For over a century, Tootsie Rolls have been a staple of candy classics everywhere. First invented by Austrian immigrant Leo Hirschfield in 1896, the candy has since become one of the most popularized and common candies across the world (via Tootsie Roll). Even better for candy lovers with allergies, Tootsie Rolls are completely peanut, tree nut, and gluten free, making them widely accessible to millions of people throughout the United States and the world. Notably, the versatility of Tootsie Rolls also goes well beyond the allergenically challenged. 

In fact, Tootsie Rolls actually helped soldiers during the Korean War. In addition to the fact that the candy helped liven up the spirits of soldiers during the war, Tootsie Rolls also presented an enduring perishable for soldiers short on dining options. When soldiers weren't treating them like snacks on Halloween, they discovered that the bite-sized candies could also serve some genuine utility. After heating, the putty-like substance proved effective in helping patch bullet holes in equipment.

Given the enduring popularity and small size of the treats, it probably won't come as a huge surprise for readers to learn that Tootsie Roll Industries makes a great many Tootsie Rolls each and every day. However, the sheer size of the production is awe-inducing.

Although the ubiquitous nature of the Tootsie Roll makes it a familiar sighting to most members of the modern world's population, the precise number of Tootsie Rolls made each day might still come as a surprise to some people. 

According to the Tootsie Roll website, an average of 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every single day. When you break it down, the statistics implied by that singular number make the scale of the production even wilder. A classic advertisement from the '70s breaks down the 64 million Tootsie Roll statistic into even more mind-boggling data. Producing 64 million candies a day averages to 44,440 every minute, or 740 every second. It's almost hard to wrap your head around. Assuming the company consistently maintains that rate every day, that number can also be extrapolated to an estimated 23 billion Tootsie Rolls a year.

In order to produce that much candy each day, the company obviously has its production and manufacturing process down to a science. According to the company's website, it boasts state-of-the-art production technology at its Chicago-based factory. The factory has been located in Chicago since 1968 where it produces millions of the stand-alone candies, as well as its famed Tootsie Roll Pops and DOTS.