Godfather of Gummy Bears dies at 90


Gummi Bear candies.


Hans Riegel.

Hans Riegel, the man behind German candy company Haribo, maker of Gummi Bears, has died of heart failure. He was 90 years old. The company he ran was founded in 1946; gum arabic was the original base ingredient for the candy, which led to its name.

Fruit-flavoured gummy bears were originally called dancing bears, inspired by the performing brown bears that once appeared at circuses and fetes. The fierce expression on their jelly faces was replaced with a smile in a 2007 makeover.