why is it called salt water taffy

Salt water taffy got its name from an incident in the early 1880s in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The story goes that an ocean swell flooded a candy shop, soaking all the taffy with salt water from the sea. When a young girl came in to buy some, a store assistant jokingly called it "salt water taffy." The name stuck because it was catchy and evoked the seaside vacation vibe, even though the candy itself does not actually contain salt water. Instead, salt water taffy is made with sugar, corn syrup, butter, and sometimes salt and water, but never actual ocean water. The tradition and marketing connection to the sea made the name popular and enduring.