Cruelty Free Halloween Candy

October 21, 2008

With Halloween just around the corner, many of us have already stocked up on candy and other goodies for trick or treaters.

This is what happens when you eat too much candy.
Me, in a high school yearbook pic, trying to channel Cleopatra

According to PETA, however, not all candy is cruelty free. PETA this week announced that some candy companies fund research that involves force feeding candy ingredients, such as cocoa powder, to laboratory animals. The group also says that such ingredients have been injected into animal arteries, while some animals have been killed and cut open to determine the candy health effects.

Given the lousy economy, the expense of medical care and many individuals' love of chocolate, let me ask you this: Don't you think that at least some people would agree to eat chocolate for a while and undergo a medical exam for pay? Minus the "cut open" part, of course. You could probably even eliminate the pay and still have individuals desiring the check-up and the free chocolate.

Three companies that have agreed NOT to fund or conduct experiments on animals are Hershey's, Pepsi and Coca Cola. My father worked for Pepsi and I used to often give out soda to trick or treaters, if the latter two options seem a bit un-Halloween to you. Kids get mighty thirsty marching around neighborhoods and hauling around heavy bags full of food freebies.

Another option that you might consider are nutritional bars for kids. (I hate to say "energy bar" and children in the same sentence.) Amazon lists CLIF Kid ZBaR as being cruelty free. I've never tried one, but it looks like they come in some tasty flavors, including chocolate brownie, peanut butter and chocolate chip. 

In terms of candy and snacks, you might also consider the below vegan products. The list has been slightly adapted from PETAKids . Even with these foods, you want to look out for palm oil, which has been linked to animal population declines due to deforestation. Hydrogenated oils are also undesirable (hence the new prevalence of palm oil). A lot of products claim "0 Trans Fat" in the nutritional information, but you may still find it mentioned in the ingredients list.

Candy

Airheads taffy
Atkins peanut butter bars
Blow Pops
Brach’s Cinnamon Hard Candy
Charms lollipops
Chick-o-Sticks
Cracker Jack
Cry Babies
Dem Bones
Dots
Dum-Dums
Fireballs
Goldenberg's Peanut Chews
Hubba Bubba bubblegum
Jujubees
Jujyfruits
Lemonheads
Mambas
Mary Janes (regular and peanut butter kisses)
Now and Later
Pez
Ring Pop lollipops
Smarties (U.S. Brand)
Sour Patch Kids
Super Bubble
Swedish Fish
Sweet Tarts
Tropical Source mini chocolate bags
Twizzlers
Zotz

Snacks

Cracker Jack
Fritos
Lance’s Toasty Crackers
Lay's Stax
Lay's WOW! potato chips
Munchos
Peanuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews, and Pistachios
Pretzels
Tostitos
Trail mix
Triscuits
Wheat Thins

One of my dearest neighbors, since passed on, used to always hold a mini gathering in front of her house for locals. She'd dish up homemade hot chocolate, smores and popcorn balls. I'll never forget those happy events, so I hope you can create such pleasant Halloween memories for the children in your house and hood. 

Comments

[Hugh]

Hi - just wanted to say nice article on Bar-tailed Godwits in Discovery News today. Nine days of flapping without stopping! You should have a word with your copyeditor, though: the very first word of the article is misspelled (foregoing - forgoing). But keep up the good work...

[Jen Viegas]

Right you are, Hugh. Sorry about that. We had to make a few last minute changes to the story and didn't catch the typo. I've alerted my editors.
Thank you!

[Janelle]

This entry certainly makes you think, but which companies perform these practices? Or maybe you could link to the PETA article?

[Jen Viegas]

Hi Janelle,
The PETA info came in an e-mailed letter, but here's one related blog entry:
http://blog.peta2.com/2007/10/have_you_bought_your_halloween.html
Thanks for your note.

[Don Holsten]

Just a short note regarding your article on the penny. I believe 1943 was the 'steelie'; not 1942. (I've been collecting pennies since 1958)

Thanks,
Don Holsten

[Jen Viegas]

Thanks, Don. Looks like you're right and the researcher was wrong. I appreciate your taking the time to write in. I'll inform my editors.