Halloween is a time for thrills, chills, and, most importantly, candy! Each year, Americans go all out, purchasing nearly 600 million pounds of candy, which averages to about 24 pounds per person. This staggering amount includes approximately 16 billion fun-size Snickers bars and 158 trillion individual candy corn kernels! According to the Huffington Post, the week leading up to Halloween sees an impressive 90 million pounds of chocolate candy sold, significantly surpassing the 65 million pounds sold before Easter and just 48 million pounds during Valentine’s Day. These numbers reflect the enthusiasm surrounding Halloween and the enjoyment of indulging in sweet treats.
One candy that stands out during Halloween is Candy Corn, which was invented in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wonderlee Candy Company. Known for its distinctive triangular shape, candy corn is a polarizing treat; people either love it or loathe it. The National Confectioners Association reports that nearly 35 million pounds of candy corn are sold each Halloween, equating to around 9 billion individual kernels. Despite its short shelf life, candy corn is the most searched-for candy term on Google, even outpacing popular choices like Snickers, Reese’s, and M&M’S. Interestingly, 52% of people believe Halloween isn’t complete without candy corn, while 48% would prefer to skip it entirely.
Notably, if BRACH’S laid out the candy corn kernels sold each year end to end, they would wrap around the Earth 4.25 times! These fun facts highlight the fascinating aspects of this classic Halloween candy.
However, indulging in Halloween sweets can come at a price. The average household spends about $25 on candy each year, contributing to 10% of annual candy sales, which totals nearly $2.6 billion. Many families opt for their personal favorites to share with trick-or-treaters, which makes Halloween candy shopping an anticipated ritual.
When it comes to health, not all candies are created equal. Everyday Health ranks candy corn as the least healthy Halloween candy, where just 15 pieces pack in 110 calories and 22 grams of sugar. On the healthier end, Hershey’s Special Dark emerges as a better option; you can consume three Jolly Ranchers for only 70 calories, with no fat and 11 grams of sugar. While some trick-or-treaters may haul in 11,000 calories worth of candy in a single night, pacing consumption is essential to avoid overwhelming sugar intake.
In celebration of Halloween, remember these October candy dates:
- 7th – National Cotton Candy Day
- 12th – Gingerbread House Day
- 16th – Chocolate Covered Anything Day
- 19th – Hard Candy Day
- 26th – Candy Cane Day
- 28th – Chocolate Candy Day
- 30th – National Candy Corn Day
As Halloween approaches, embrace the spooky sweets, but don’t forget to indulge wisely!
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