Halloween goes organic

It’s fast approaching the time of year when grandparents, police officers, and neighbors stock up on those candy treats which contribute to the traditional festivities of Halloween. When we were little, our favourite treats were the brightly coloured toffee apples and the candied popcorn which came in brown paper bags. The goblins of today are just as likely to receive wholesome muesli bars, trade fair chocolates, or one of the organically certified candy products now appealing to health conscious parents.

Organic candy has been around for several decades but has only recently become a mainstream item. A few years ago, you had to search the internet for limited supplies of organic candy. Dealing with small-scale manufacturers and the lack of consistent product information often presented challenges. It was essentially a hit and miss exercise. The recent arrival of recognised confectionery brands and manufacturers has increased competitive marketing to the extent that overall quality and widespread availability is assured.

Our local supermarket devotes one of their shelf sections to a full range of organic candy and other sweet snacks. The grandkids have already marked out their favourites. Something about their bright wrappers and cheerful presentation, no doubt.

The question which must be asked, of course, is whether organically certified candy is better for children than the conventional alternative. In terms of the overall sugar content, there is probably insufficient difference to separate the two options. Some organic products claim to use less refined sugar or natural sugars, but what does that count for? Unfortunately, sugar is simply that. There’s lots of information about the health risks of excessive sugar consumption so let’s practice moderation where we can. The real advantage of the organic treats is their purity. You will rest assured that organically certified candy does not contain the chemical additives which are frequently used as colouring, preservative, and flavouring agents in conventional candy products. Several of these chemical additives are suspected to contribute to childhood medical conditions like allergy, hyperactivity, and sleep disorders.