Some Halloween Treats Are Downright Scary (1812 hits)
Remember caramel apples and marshmallow cereal treats? Before the tainted candy scares of the 1980s, many households handed out wholesome homemade sweets to trick-or-treaters. But food companies were quick to take advantage of parental jitters, churning out individually wrapped, mass-produced candy in the name of safety.
It's paid off for retailers. This year, industry insiders estimate that the average person will spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy, up from $72.31 last year, with total Halloween spending expected to reach $8 billion. But what, exactly, are we buying? Many popular treats contain high levels of artificial colors, outrageous amounts of sugar, or levels of acidity that can damage tooth enamel.
Click through the gallery to learn which Halloween candies you should avoid.