Editor’s Note: Yes, soda consumption is declining in America and the soda industry has taken a hit, which is good news for the health of Americans. But people eat lots of sugar in the form of candy, especially on certain holidays, and this trend continues to rise. So what can be done to get people to cut back on candy?
Article by Julia Belluz • Originally published by Vox
Look around: Chances are there is Halloween candy near you right now. If the candy is not in your home, your office, or your school, it’s in a bowl at the dry cleaner’s, the doctor’s office, or the tire shop.
We’ve officially entered the long season of candy-centric holidays. Make no mistake: After we drench ourselves in sugar this Halloween, we’ll do it again on Christmas and Hanukkah, Valentine’s Day, Passover, Easter, and in the weeks between these special days. The candy industry counts on us to celebrate with sugar for a huge portion of its annual sales.
We can all agree that Halloween and other seasonal candy is a fun ritual. I like chocolate as much as my Vox colleagues who recently ranked their favorite Halloween candies. And a bit of candy here and there is no problem for our health.
But we have reached a point where the amount of candy in circulation is excessive — and symbolic of our sugarcoated environment.
Click here to keep reading the full article from Vox to learn how much candy Americans are eating, how Big Candy became so popular, why it’s time to cut back for our health, and what to do with all that leftover Halloween candy you have lying around. (Hint: You don’t have to eat it!)