In rural Dodge County, Wisconsin, a sheriff’s officer documented a random road occurrence:  hundreds of thousands of red “Skittles” candies spilled on the road.  Missing their trademark “S” stamped on them, it has been figured that rain in the area caused bags full of rejected versions of the candy to rip open and spill.

But where they were headed?  Ah.  That seems to be real story.

It turns out that it has been common practice, especially since corn prices jumped up in 2012, for farmers to mix these factory rejects in with their feed — “cheap carbs,” as we learn from this article from Eater.   While there little concern that the candies are rotten or toxic — they likely just didn’t meet quality standards — people are surprised to find that junk food was on the diet of bovines.

Yes, that steak on your plate may have “tasted the rainbow.”

And as if the story couldn’t get weirder — Mars Inc., the company that manufactures Skittles, is now trying to figure out how that candy got there.  Mainly because the factory it was coming from was not authorized to resell food for animal feed.

A highway strewn with candy in the night.  A spotlight shone on a hidden food secret.  And bootleg black market sweets.  This has the makings of a really boring Netflix series.  I’m treating the script now.  😉  — [eric]