Trick or meat: Here's what's inside that candy corn

Nothing lights up the internet rage-o-meter quite like ...candy corn? 

Opinions abound about this treat. It's even Michigan's most popular Halloween candy. 

But what exactly is in these controversial, corn kernel-shaped nuggets of sweetness?  Will trick-or-treaters even consume these?

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It's not as esoteric as you might think. But as to whether or not this candy will make your trick-or-treaters scream with delight, well, let's just say, we're not Michigan.

Brach's candy corn, a ubiquitous member of most candy aisles is comprised of: Sugar, corn syrup, confectioner's glaze, salt, dextrose, gelatin, sesame oil, artificial flavor, honey, yellow 6, yellow 5, red 3.

We asked Dr. Yael Vodovotz, the director of the Center for Advanced Functional Food Research and Food Entrepreneurship, to break down some of the science behind what's in your candy corn. 

So. Corn syrup and dextrose? Doesn't that mean that there is actual corn in your candy corn?

Yep. Dextrose comes from corn and behaves as a sugar, but unlike regular sugar, it keeps crystals from forming. Translation: Without it, your velvety-smooth candy corn might be crunchy. 

But wait. Hold your horses. Gelatin?

Gelatin is a fairly common ingredient in gummy candy – think Starbursts, Junior Mints, or gummy worms. Derived from the cartilage and bones of animals, gelatin helps create a chewy, soft texture. 

OK. So don't feed these to your vegetarian friends. Or to those who observe Halal or Kosher diets. 

Concerned about incorporating meat with your sweets and still want to consume some corn-shaped candy? 

Jelly Belly's candy corn will fit the bill, but comes with a slightly longer list of ingredients: Sugar, corn syrup, and contains 2 percent or less of the following: Modified soy protein, artificial flavor, sorbitol, color added, yellow 6, yellow 5, red 3, beeswax, carnauba wax, confectioner's glaze, salt. 

Sorbi-wha? Sorbitol. It increases the shelf life of confections by keeping them softer for longer. No one wants to eat crunchy candy corn, except perhaps those of you who enjoy mixing candy corn with peanuts. 

If those ingredient lists give you pause, or if you're vegan or one of those enviable people who already finished their Halloween decorations and costumes and want something to truly go over the top of Halloween achievement, there's a third option: Make it yourself. There are several recipes for homemade candy corn.

Just keep in mind that, because it contains fewer preservatives, homemade candy corn won't last for months in the candy dish and might not have the familiar texture of commercially produced candy corn.

Vodovotz says you may prefer natural flavors over artificial flavors because you think that artificial flavors are "hocus pocus," but that no matter what you eat, it's a bunch of chemicals put together.

At the end of the day, "the body doesn't know the difference," she said.