Rat Candy

Rat candy is rodenticide. The name is a slang nickname, the exact origins of which are not conclusively known. One possible origin is the way that a rat is attracted to rat poison like a child to candy, another possibility being the use of actual candy, particularly chocolate, as bait when luring a rat into a trap that will lead to its imprisonment or demise [ [http://vector.ifas.ufl.edu/chapter_08.htm Public-Health Pesticide Applicator Training Manual] ] .

According to United States Environmental Protection Agency statistics, approximately 13,000 American children were treated for ingesting rat poison in 2004, most mistaking the rodenticide for candy [ [http://www.buffalonews.com/101/story/67285.html Buffalo News - "Sweet rat poison is a danger to children"] ] . Other sources put the figure nearer to the 50,000 mark [ [http://www.organicconsumers.org/school/ratpoison111704.cfm Organic Consumers Association -"EPA Allows Rat Poison Manufacturers to Poison Kids"] ] .

Warfarin, an early rat poison, was derived from licorice. Tales of poisoned candy also abound in urban legends.

"Rat Candy" is the title of the debut album by English band The Malfated, released on 6th June 2006. Lead singer Karl Steiger heard the phrase in reference to rodenticide during a visit to Texas [ [http://www.malfated.com/html/discography.html Official discography of The Malfated] ] .

Rat Candy is also actual confectionery made to look like rats and other rodents [ [http://www.stupid.com/stat/RATC.html Jelly Belly 'Pet Rat Candy'] ] [ [http://www.marzipanworld.com/acatalog/Marzipan_World_Marzipan_Rats_182.html Marzipan World - Candy Rats] ] . Such candy is particularly popular during Halloween.

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