Halloween candy sales up this year

Americans will spend a record $2.3 billion dollars in Halloween candy this year according to the National Confectioners Association. 

Even with all the anti-sugar campaigns candy sales are expected to increase this Halloween season, with 96 percent of U.S. consumers planning to buy, a 0.5 percent increase compared with 2011, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The average consumer is anticipated to spend $24.25, an increase of $2.20 per person compared with spending during the previous Halloween, the federation reports. Overall, candy sales are expected to reach some $2.3 billion for the holiday.

In addition, a record 170 million people are expected to celebrate in some way this year and total spending for the holiday is projected to reach $8 billion. The NRF says spending is growing in every category for Halloween, which it attributes to increases in adult participation.

The NRF, says: “In recent years we’ve seen adults taking this holiday to a new level, everything from attending haunted houses to planning to trick or treat. That is something we’ve watched grow during the past few years.”

Our advice?

Don't be bullied by the candy buy back people.

Keep and eat all the candy you collect, you worked for it, it's yours.

Jimmy Kimmel plays Halloween prank on kids

It wasn't pretty, there were tantrums, tears and lots of screaming.
This is what happened after hundreds of parents told their children they had stayed up late and ate all their Halloween candy.
And now the video of Jimmy Kimmel urging parents to play along with the joke.

He asked viewers to give their children the bad news, capture the results on video and post the results online.

There was one boy who told his dad: 'Good for you, daddy's probably going to have a belly ache.
'That's why you shouldn't eat so much candy.'

Jimmy Kimmel said he was surprised how many children burst into tears after hearing the news












And another little girl bursts into tears and shouts: 'Dad, you're ugly!'
But Kimmel, said the joke would cause so many tears.
He said: I kind of thought kids would be mad - but almost all of them cried.'

White House Hands Out Halloween Candy, Yes Candy

We congratulate the White House for handing out White House M&Ms, and not only dried fruit.

Earlier this week, Obama joked that he had warned his wife that if she wanted to avoid a Halloween rebellion she might want to hand out more than just fruit and raisins.


"I told her the White House is going to get egged if this keeps up," he said, suggesting that she might want to add "a couple of Reese's Pieces or something.

Halloween Candy Off To A Great Start

We don't want to talk about dentists who buy back candy, or sugar content of Halloween treats, or silly healthy Halloween alternatives.
Instead we are pleased to report that Hershey raised its full-year sales target on Thursday as Halloween candy sales got off to a strong start.

"Results were slightly better than our expectations as both U.S. chocolate and non-chocolate candy categories continue to grow greater than the historical average despite macroeconomic challenges," said John Bilbrey, Hershey's chief executive.


The maker of Reese's peanut butter cups, Twizzlers and Kit Kat bars stood by its full-year profit growth goal, but raised its sales target. It now expects 2011 sales to increase about 7 percent, instead of 6 percent.


"Halloween got off to a solid start and we now anticipate higher seasonal sales for the full year," Bilbrey added.

Yes, candy is alive and well.

Trick-Or-Treaters Warned Of Pot-Laced Candy, in California

Just days before Californians vote on Proposition 19, the marijuana legalization measure, trick-or-treaters have been warned to be on the look out for pot-laced candy this Halloween.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department issued the warning to parents in light of candy and snacks containing marijuana being confiscated from pot dispensaries.

Even though California has state laws allowing the medical use of marijuana, the confiscated candy was untested and unlicensed.

Officials are telling parents to check Halloween candy  for signs the candy was tampered with.

Halloween - a day of sugar

It's trick or treat time, and for most of us, that means candy.When the kids start ringing your door bell on Halloween, the costumed masses are looking for candy treats, and nothing else.
Halloween is the highest-grossing holiday of the year for the candy industry, according to the National Confectioners Association, with spending for candy this season reaching $2 billion.

There is however, an initiative, led by "A Bunch of Baby Carrot Farmers," wanting to make baby carrots the treat of choice this Halloween.


Bolthouse Farms, has a slogan about brightly colored vegetables, "Eat 'Em Like Junk Food."
Their campaign now is the new, healthier kind of Halloween “treat.”
Scarrots (baby carrots) are offered in 1.7-ounce bags for health-conscious bores who don't want to hand out candy.



"We've been blown away by the response to this campaign," said Jeff Dunn, the chief executive officer of Bolthouse Farms, in a release. "… We've learned that is there's a huge groundswell of support behind our effort to brand Baby Carrots as the ultimate junk food and we're excited to offer snackers of all kinds a new Halloween treat."
Regardless of their marketing efforts, sugar is still the king of Halloween.

Candy sales are on track to increase by 7 percent from last year, with about three-quarters (72.2 percent) of homes expected to hand out candy this All Hallows Eve.
The average American household will spend $20.29 on candy this Halloween.
So, we are happy to report, Americans still believe Halloween should be a day of sugar.

It seems there will be no time for Scarrots this Halloween.

Eating Candy as a Kid Could Increase Violence as an Adult

Take a good look kids, this could happen to you if you eat candy! 

The assault on candy comes out right at Halloween time, but it's probably just a coincidence, right?

British researchers have concluded that children eating candy will probably result in angry, violent behavior when they get older, and they released this info just before Halloween.

But at least they have solid evidence: Out of the 10 year old kids who ate candy daily, more than two-thirds had violent offense arrests by the age of 34.
It doesn't matter how or where those numbers were gathered, or how they determined how much candy anyone consumed, the results are final.
But after the dramatic headlines and accusations were made public, researchers admitted they need more studies to confirm the link between young candy eaters and violent adults.
(translated that means, they really don't what any of it means)

The study is found in this month's issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Dentist To buy back Halloween Candy

A West Chester dentist is offering to buy back Halloween candy trick-or-treaters get in a bid to improve children's health.
Dr. George Downing will pay a dollar per pound for up to five pounds of candy per person.
Dr.Downing will sent the candy to deployed soldiers,
(to destroy their teeth and health) while improving the oral care of children and preventing childhood obesity.
Why do we think a Halloween tax is not too far away?

Illinois Braces for Higher Taxes at Grocery Stores

Well well well, it's happening in Chicago.
The increase in the state taxes paid on candy, soft drinks and some alcoholic beverages is now in motion and it's probably just the beginning.
Lovers of carbonated drinks, candy made without flour and alcohol will see price increases as revisions to the state sales tax go into effect.
The extra money is expected to pay for repairs to state roads, schools and bridges.

News of the increase confused consumers and some tax experts by the way certain candy items were re-categorized as general merchandise rather than as candy, which is taxed at a lower rate.

Under the revisions, candy items bought in Chicago without flour are subject to the full 10.25 percent general merchandise sales tax. Meanwhile, candy made with flour will retain its current 2.25 percent tax rate. Most carbonated soft drinks have also been tossed from the food category and subject to the 10.25 percent rate in the city.

Soft drinks and sweets are quickly becoming tax targets and the pretense that it's purpose to fight the fat is almost laughable because the new tax would probably have little effect on obesity.