When I was in grade school the innocence of Trick or Treat’ was challenged when razor blades and other sharp, pointy objects began popping up in our Halloween candy. It was the early 80′s and what a drag it was to have my mom smush up every piece before I was allowed to shove it down my throat, insuring that I was not about to inhale a safety pin, or the tip of a hypodermic needle. All that smushing was worth it. For one glorious night I was allowed to consume sugary, chocolatey decadence to my hearts delight before returning to the pantry of non-sugary food items for the next 364 days.
Today there is a whole new war on Halloween candy and I blame this one not a few lone freaks trying to get their Halloween thrills by terrorizing small children, but rather on corporate greed. Palm oil, unfairly traded cocoa and child labor. Boo you say! I tried to ignore this one too, thinking can’t we just have our one day of gluttonous excess? Is nothing sacred? It’s reminiscent of the cookie feud between Michelle Obama and Sarah Palin…and really, whose side do you want to be on that one?
Devastated Palm Forest, former home to the Orangutan
Listen to writer Mary Elizabeth Williams discuss the “War on Halloween” on the Madeleine Brand Show here. Read the full story here on Salon.com.
So this doesn’t mean no candy, it just means different candy. Try and source local, organic chocolates or make something homemade. Talk to your kids about what is going on. Read labels and shop wisely. Keep it simple.
For Further information: Read about two Michigan Girl Scouts who boycotted Girl Scout Cookies until The Girl Scouts of America agreed to stop using Palm oil here and here. Organizations like Raise the Bar Hershey are calling for an end to child labor produced cocoa. Check here for some ideas on how to green your Halloween.
