Ayds Weight-Loss Candy

I'm reminded of the South Park episode, featuring Jared, the guy from the Subway commercials..

It's revealed that he lost a lot of that weight because he had a couple of aides.. and in fact, he thinks everybody should get aides to help them lose weight and feel great!

My father (Ayds!)
My sister (Ayds!)
My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (Ayds! Ayds! Ayds!)
The gays and the straights
And the white and the spades
Everyone has Ayds!
Ayds! Ayds! Ayds! Ayds! Ayds!
etc.

I remember these commercials as well as how quickly they were pulled and the product taken off the shelves. I always thought it was so sad that they had the misfortune to choose that name.

I remember these _way_ long before AIDS. They were around for some time. I used to eat them. They tasted pretty good.

Heck, I remember WAY back when the product was actually spelled Aids. My grandmother was addicted to those things, even though she never lost a pound in her entire 86 years.

I remember AYDS Candy well. It was constantly advertised on the cheaper TV channels for about 20 years, until, as Alex says, there happened to be a global pandemic of a virus known as AIDS, which, as a matter of fact, also causes rapid weight loss (the popular name in several African countries for HIV/AIDS is "Slim").

I also remember, somewhat less vividly, several organizations with names having the acronyms "AID" or "AIDS", most of which ended up changing their names by the end of the 1980s, because (1) there was a serious stigma attached to having AIDS in the early years of the pandemic, and (2) the names were confusing for organizations that had nothing to do with preventing or treating HIV infections.

I remember Ayds; I worked in a drugstore in the early 80s, and we sold them. I also remember a rumor in the 70s that they contained tapeworms, and that was what caused you to lose weight.

Supposedly AYDS candy contained an appetite supressant. I don't think the advertisements ever said what the active ingredient was (nicotine? cocaine?). You were supposed to eat the candy about a half hour before meal time, and then you wouldn't be as hungry. I don't know if it really worked, but I don't remember there being any shortage of overweight people while AYDS was popular.

My mom used to buy those and my sister and I would sneak one every now and then. I remember the chocolate mint kind - they were pretty good.

According to this:
http://www.nutriwatch.org/09Reg/FTC/weight.html

Ayds dates back to at least 1944, assuming that I am reading the page correctly and that it is correct. Ayds has Benzocaine in it, which is a topical anaesthetic (it numbs the point of contact). Presumably the idea is that the Benzocaine will numb your stomach, although I would expect this to actually increase your appetite, as you would feel less full.

I assume the act of eating anything shortly before a meal would make you feel less hungry, which might explain why people continued taking Ayds. Have a cup of tea instead.

It's also worth noting that Cancer is a sign of the Zodiac; they haven't changed the name yet, but it can only be a matter of time. I have spoken to a man called De'Ath.

If Benzocaine really was the active ingredient, I suppose it was meant to work by numbing your taste buds (on your tongue), not your stomach. I guess that would make food less appealing.

Not only do I remember Ayds, I used them for quite awhile thoughout my teenage years. What you supposed to do is eat one and drink a large glass of water. Along with numbing your tongue, the water made you feel full. Heck, you can just drink water before a meal and lose weight! Anyways, The Carlton company had a massive lawsuit filed against them by the FTC.

By the way, I found a box of 1950s Ayds on Ebay for 14.99. Sheesh!

http://goodee2shoes.blogspot.com/

i remember watching an Ayds commercial on webjunk 20. Its really sad to see this product with a name like this. so sad...

Used Ayds in the late 60's. Worked great, wish they were still around.

Oh, My Gosh , you foolish people, I used Ayds,, has nothing to do with the other aids. It really works great . It was the only time I stayed thin. I wish I could buy it now. I bet many baby boomers do.

I am with the last person--I wished I could find the diet candy Ayds it was awesome and it DID work!!

Elizabeth in MA said: I remember Ayds; I worked in a drugstore in the early 80s, and we sold them. I also remember a rumor in the 70s that they contained tapeworms, and that was what caused you to lose weight.
Posted by Elizabeth in MA on Wed Feb 22, 2006 at 11:41 AM
=============================================

I remember them as well, and I remember the rumor about their containing tapeworm eggs!

I also grew up in MA, so perhaps it was a Massachusetts urban legend.

I'd forgotten all about "Ayds."

Hmph.

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.

I remember the Ayds candy it work for me when I was a teenager in the 60's. I had a problem of always being called fat. So I taken my babysitting money and brought a box of the Ayds candy. This product work wonderfully for me because, I like sweets and my mother would want me to clean my plate for dinner. I would eat the candy and do as she said and still I was losing the weight. I did not know the company was not in business anymore. I really wish they were still there for me and many other that it help. I recent need to lose weight, this medication and nerves, cause me to want to eat more and the problems, stress. I really don't eat right and just need a little help. When taken the Adys candy, I would eat more salads and fruits. Please can someone tell the company or get a labatories to re-name or remake to help people who once had a success with this product. I hope you can help if not I'll do the best I can.

I think Ayds is really helpful in weight loss. If you are looking for some more <weight loss help, you can get from this Brad's famous weight loss site.

My Granmother and Aunts were never without their AYDS. Let me tell you, they may as well have been laced with coke, these ladies were productive! ADYS, coffee and cigarettes the breakfast of champions if you were a woman in the early 70's. My grandmother kept them in her room next to her bed (along with the Benson&Hedges; 100's). I would sneak into the box, there seemed like there were hundreds in that box. Rows and rows of yummy little plastic wrapped candies that looked just like candy caramels. Being only 6 years old I figured it was candy that they were hiding from me so why not sneak a few - afterall that box was virtually bottomless! Then one day I ate a candy in my other aunts room. She was the free thinker, not held down to the pressures of being the perfect woman. She went to Woodstock, she liked rock music! She was pretty and fun! It was wrapped in a plastsic wrapper just like AYDS. It was also sticky and a little chewy Like AYDS. But then it tasted crumbly and not very yummy so I took the other half, patted it back together, wrapped it back up and put it back in her pretty little jewelry box. The last thing I recall was trying to dance with our terrier on the coffee table and my grandmother yelling, "wait til your mother get's home!". Yeah, ok so that was my first hash experience.
Bring back AYDS!

The ingredient in Ayds that suppressed your appetite was the same thing that's in nasal spray.

I remember the product Ayds, but it seemed that it was already fading before the AIDS epidemic became widely known. If that percepetion is incorrect, it seems silly that they didn't simply change the name to something completely different.

I remember Ayds as well. As a kid I would sneak a few from time to time -- although I believe the active ingredient was phenylproponalamine, not benzocaine as someone else said. And since the stop meth act of 2005, you can't get that any more in a diet pill, so anyone wanting that again (or the original dexatrim or anything like it) -- heh, sorry, you're out of luck!

I'd forgotten about these things -- too funny to bring it up in today's context!!!

wow! that's the "best marketing compagin ever"

I remember in the seventies when it was spelled AIDS. It was the only diet product around. I wanted to lose weight as around 14 and I would always see it in the corner Pharmacy in my Montreal neighbourhood (those little pharmacies do not exist anymore). I saved my money and ran to buy it. I was a bit embarassed in case someone saw me buying it. 😊

I found that they held a secret to losing weight. I don't think I lost any, but still I liked eating them and thinking I would lose weight.
When the aids epidemic came into being in the mid eightees, sadly I did put the two together.

I wonder where they are now? Under some new name selling diet pills instead?

Ironoic, isn't it...

Worms in Ayds was a popular urban legend. Our nun in 7th grade told the class she had a friend that put an ayd (?) on the window sill and came back and worms were all over it. This same nun constantly sent our inane essays to the National Inquirer. For entertainment value alone, Catholic School was worth it.

i remember Ayds... i've been looking for them for years. :( it's too bad they're no longer made. it's no better than the other fake diet aids out there... but some people need mental psych outs, if it works, it works. and it worked for a lot of people.

like Ima, my grandmother also had those little packages. i guess that's why i attach such good thoughts and nostalgia to them. they remind me of my grandmother.

i miss Ayds. only newbies associate AIDS with Ayds.... but then, there are older timers who remember Burma Shave and Lucky Strikes with the warm glow of nostalgia, too. i'm a newbie, too. so it's all good. it'd be better if someone brought Ayds back, though.

I have no idea what those marketing advisers were thinking when they came up with that name. Were they on something? I mean there's a whole bunch of people who can't spell words right, not to mention the fact the the only mentioning of AIDS makes most of people shiver and become reluctant. What they did was pure suicide.

Um, Ayds came out years before AIDS hit the news. It was an unfortunate coincindence, but nothing more.

Of course you'd have known this if you had bothered reading the article.

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.

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

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)

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.

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,

Cool stuff, as long as it works lol.

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)! 😉

I don't believe in taking up pills for weight loss. Anyway one day it will end up in some side effects.

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.

I don't remember the product. There is so much you can put in candy now.

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?

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?

Well, i believe that it is better to lose weight via the proper way

sorry I don't remember AYDS Candy well

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?

Please bring back Ayds.I had such good luck with it.It really helped me control my appetite and loose weight.

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

Nice product. i haven't come across such item. i like to have a try. where can i purchase it?

:-) I just found this site. I am sharing this article with my Better Body Group.

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.