What’s Hiding in Your Halloween Candy?

Halloween means costumes, trick-or-treating and, of course, lots of candy.

Many popular candies contain food additives used to create brighter colors, improve texture, or extend shelf life. If you are trying to reduce some of these additives in your family's diet, Halloween is a great time to know what to look for and what alternatives are available.

Here are a few ingredients you may see on Halloween candy labels and why some people choose to limit them.

Titanium Dioxide

Titanium dioxide is a food additive that has been used to make foods appear brighter or whiter.

One of the primary concerns with titanium dioxide is potential genotoxicity, meaning the possibility of damage to DNA. The European Food Safety Authority concluded that genotoxicity concerns could not be ruled out and, as a result, titanium dioxide could no longer be considered safe as a food additive.

Food formulations change frequently, so check current ingredient labels if this is an additive you are trying to avoid.

TBHQ

TBHQ, or tertiary butylhydroquinone, is an antioxidant used as a preservative. It helps prevent fats and oils from becoming rancid, which can extend the shelf life of packaged foods.

Research has raised questions about the potential effects of TBHQ on the immune system, particularly at higher levels of exposure.

If you're trying to minimize preservatives in your family's diet, TBHQ is one ingredient you may choose to look for on labels.

BHT

BHT, or butylated hydroxytoluene, is another antioxidant used to preserve freshness and extend shelf life.

BHT has been studied for potential effects on hormone function and cancer risk, particularly in animal and laboratory research. At this time, the evidence is not strong enough to say that the amounts permitted in foods cause these effects in humans.

Synthetic Food Dyes

Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Blue 1 are examples of synthetic dyes used to give candy its bright colors.

Of these additives, synthetic dyes have some of the most relevant research when it comes to children. Studies suggest that synthetic food dyes may contribute to increased hyperactivity, inattention, or other behavioral symptoms in some children, although not every child appears to respond the same way.

If you are trying to reduce synthetic dyes, look for products colored with ingredients like fruit and vegetable juices instead.

Want Alternatives? Try These Candy Swaps

You don't have to swap candy for fruit or eliminate treats altogether. There are plenty of candies available that don't contain some of the additives above.

Instead of traditional peanut butter cups:
Try Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.

Instead of traditional lollipops:
Try YumEarth Organic Pops.

Instead of traditional gummy candy:
Try Annie's Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks.

Instead of traditional M&M's:
Try Unreal Dark Chocolate Crispy Quinoa Gems.

These are still candy and sweet treats. They're simply alternatives for families looking for products without certain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Need Help Swapping Your Kids' Halloween Candy?

If your kids come home with a bucket full of candy you'd rather swap out, here are a few easy ways to do it.

Try the Switch Witch

Have your child choose the candy they want to trade and leave it out for the "Switch Witch" before bed.

The Switch Witch takes the candy and leaves something else behind. This could be a small toy, book, craft, stickers, LEGO set, or another item your child would enjoy.

You can also have the Switch Witch replace traditional candy with some of the alternatives above.

Set Up a Candy Trade

Let your kids trade pieces of their Halloween candy for alternatives you have at home.

You can trade multiple pieces to get a bag of the alternative or you could make it a simple one-for-one trade or let kids choose which pieces they want to exchange.

Trade Candy for Something Else

Candy can also become "currency."

Decide on a simple exchange ahead of time. For example, a certain number of pieces could be traded for a small toy, book, activity, extra screen time, or another privilege.

Keep the Favorites, Swap the Rest

Have your child go through their Halloween candy and choose the pieces they really want to keep.

Then use the Switch Witch, candy trade, or another exchange for the rest.

The Bottom Line

Halloween candy often contains additives like synthetic dyes, TBHQ, BHT and, depending on the product and formulation, titanium dioxide.

Brands like Unreal, YumEarth and Annie's offer easy swaps for many familiar Halloween treats. And if you're wondering how to actually get those swaps into your house without simply throwing away your kids' Halloween haul, try the Switch Witch, a candy trade, or letting kids choose their favorites and exchange the rest.

Feel like you can’t stop eating the halloween candy or your sugar cravings are growing in intensity? Check out our free five day experience on how to break free from sugar cravings here!