Hello, I'm an expert in the field of confectionery history. Let's dive into the origins of the popular chewy candy known as Starburst.

The original name of Starburst was "Opal Fruits". This brand of fruit-flavored chewy sweets was created by the UK company Mars, Incorporated. The name "Opal Fruits" was first used in 1960, and the candy was known for its slogan "Have an Opal Fruit - Have a Fruity Mixture!" The candies were also characterized by their individual wrappers with a list of two fruits on each, representing the flavor of the candy inside.

In 1998, the name was changed to "Starburst" in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and the candy has been known by this name ever since. The rebranding was part of a global strategy to unify the candy's name across different markets, as it was already known as "Starburst" in the United States and other countries.

So, the transition from "Opal Fruits" to "Starburst" represents a shift in branding that aimed to create a more consistent international identity for the candy.

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The Starburst brand was introduced in England in 1959. They were first known as Opal Fruits, the name coming from the result of a competition. The four original flavors were strawberry, lemon, orange, and lime. In 1967 Opal Fruits were brought to the United States and the name was changed to Starburst.read more >>