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We also have to take into consideration the sustainability of the dairy industry as chocolate candies are incredibly popular. The use of hormones in the dairy industry is not very sustainable. Look for candies that use certified organic dairy in their ingredient list as these farms typically have a lower environmental impact.
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Palm oil is another ingredient found in candies and this has been known to contribute to deforestation and emitting a large amount of greenhouse gases through the harvesting, depending on where the palm oil is sourced from.
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It’s no secret that most candy is wrapped in plastic. We all know that plastic is a huge problem.
Unethical Labor in the Candy Industry
The cocoa industry is widely known for being abusive towards farmers. This mistreatment takes place in forms such as child labor, human trafficking, and unpaid labor.
It is reported that there are 2 million child laborers in West Africa alone, many of whom were kidnapped and forced into the labor of the chocolate industry. Along with cocoa, sugar and other ingredients have also been linked to displacement of communities, draining resource, and unfair labor practices.
The candy industry in the USA is a 70 billion dollar industry and laborers should be paid fairly. While all of this may seem overwhelming, there are a few things we can choose as consumer such as organic and fair trade.
Is Organic Candy Healthier?
While organic candy isn’t necessarily healthy, the ingredients tend to be cleaner and the end product crafted with less chemicals. It’s definitely a healthier option when looking to satisfy your sweet tooth with a delicious treat.
When shopping at the grocery store you can easily look for the USDA Organic label on certain candies.
This means the candy has been certified by a third party and contains a certain percentage of organic ingredients.
The Atlantic reports that if 95 percent of a product is made up of organic ingredients, it can be called organic.
If it’s 70 percent organic, the label can read “made with organic ingredients.”
Where to Buy Organic Candy?
When shopping for organic Halloween candy it can be tricky to find. As the popularity for organic products has grown, you can find options at some mainstream grocery stores. As we mentioned above, some of these brands can be found at Kroger, Target, or QFC.
Other health food stores such as Sprouts, Whole Foods, and Trader Joes carry candy made with non-gmo ingredients and certified organic candies!
