Marshmallow

Marshmallows are tasty treats, often called "the best part of camping", and were used during the Campfire Ceremonies in the first season as a symbol of safety from elimination.

Total Drama Island
According to Chris, marshmallows 'represent your life on the show' in the camp and the contestant who does not receive a marshmallow will be eliminated, must walk the Dock of Shame and then ride the Boat of Losers and never come back (although that has been proven to be false.)

At all campfire ceremonies, Chris, standing behind an oil drum, with a plate full of marshmallows, will explain what happens when you don't receive a marshmallow ("The camper who does not receive a marshmallow must walk down the Dock of Shame, board the Boat of Losers and leave...and you can't come back...ever!") and then hand out marshmallows one by one. When there is only one marshmallow left, Chris will have some type of dialogue relating to the final two campers and then give out the final marshmallow, often with a dramatic pause (long or short) in between.

The final marshmallow is given out in The Very Last Episode, Really! to Gwen or Owen, depending on the ending. At first, Owen promised he would treasure the marshmallow for the rest of his life, but his appetite got the best of him and he swallowed it whole.

Total Drama Action
In this season, marshmallows are not given out as a sign of immunity, but are still seen in some episodes of the season, always used as giant marshmallow boxing gloves. In Million Dollar Babies, these marshmallows play an important role early in the episode. are used as boxing gloves by Harold and Lindsay. While they were fighting, Lindsay eats a part of Harold's marshmallow, meaning they could be real marshmallows. Duncan had to use these marshmallows to fight the bear in Mutiny on the Soundstage, since he did not answer a question properly. Duncan continuously punches the bear, until the bear knocks him out in one punch. The large marshmallows seen during the season were also used as a weapon by a player in the Cartoon Network game, "Best. Game. Ever."

Total Drama World Tour
For the elimination ceremony in Awww, Drumheller, Chris decided to do a little tribute to the first season. He gives marshmallows to Sierra and Heather. He was about to give one to Cody until Sierra interrupted him.

Trivia

 * Geoff was the first Killer Bass male and member (Thus being the first contestant overall) to receive a marshmallow, and Katie was the first Killer Bass female. She is also the first female overall to get a marshmallow.
 * Owen was the first Screaming Gopher male to get a marshmallow, Gwen was the first female Gopher. Coincidentally, they were the final two.
 * The amount of marshmallows each participant received was;
 * Ezekiel: Zero
 * Eva: One (though she is never seen receiving one on-screen)
 * Noah: Zero
 * Justin: One
 * Katie: Two
 * Tyler: Three
 * Izzy: Six
 * Cody: Three
 * Beth Four
 * Sadie: Four
 * Courtney: Five
 * Harold: Six
 * Trent: Five
 * Bridgette: Eight
 * Lindsay: Nine
 * DJ: Ten
 * Geoff: Eleven
 * LeShawna: Eleven
 * Mr. Coconut: Zero
 * Duncan: Twelve
 * Heather: Fourteen
 * Gwen: Thirteen (Fourteen in the alternative ending)
 * Owen: Fourteen (Thirteen in the alternative ending)
 * There has been a total of one hundred and forty one marshmallows given out to the contestants (both on-screen and off-screen).
 * The only episodes the marshmallows were not handed out at a Campfire Ceremony were Not So Happy Campers - Part 1, Brunch of Disgustingness, No Pain, No Game, That's Off The Chain, Hook, Line, and Screamer, Haute Camp-ture and I Triple Dog Dare You!.
 * Marshmallows made a cameo appearance in the Cartoon Network game Chomp Sewey, as they were seen being roasted by DJ, Courtney, and Tyler inside the albino alligator's stomach.
 * The only contestants to not receive a marshmallow are Ezekiel, Noah, Blainely, Mr. Coconut, and Alejandro.