Choose your next candy wisely as we count down 10 more Banned Candies That Can Kill.
As much as candy is liked and cherished, some are shockingly bad for you - and possibly
even deadly.
Starburst
Coming from the same family as our beloved Skittles, it's no surprise that Starburst
candies would share the same fate - destined to be bad for you. They might be colorful,
fun, and gluten-free, but that doesn't mean that they're without risk. In fact, they're
one of the worst candies of all in terms of nutrition. Let's just say that the ingredients
that make the fruity squares so "unexplainably juicy" aren't exactly the most natural. Of
course, Starburst contains a lot of sugar - a solid 34 grams for one pack - 240 calories, corn
syrup, and to top it off; it has zero grams of dietary fiber and no protein. Not exactly
the definition of a "sweet deal." They also obviously contain food coloring and that environmentally
destructive palm oil we've mentioned before. But, no matter how unhealthy and bad for your teeth
those Starburst squares are, they always seem to sell like hotcakes. Why? Probably because
they taste so yummy, people don't bother thinking about what they're putting in their bodies. Next
time you're craving something fruity, juicy, and colorful, why not go for an actual fruit
instead? It's guaranteed that one of them will be better for you in the long run.
Twizzlers
A true movie theater classic. Twizzlers might not be the most popular candy today, but people
still fight over the last piece of red licorice in the pack. Invented in 1845, Twizzlers definitely
knows a thing or two about how to successfully brand a candy - but we can't really say the
same about its ability to brand a healthy candy. For years, Twizzlers has been marketed
as “low fat," but don't let that fool you. It might be low in fat, but it quickly catches
up in terms of sugar. These delicious twists consist almost entirely of sugar - oh, and along
with some refined flour and artificial additives, you know, to keep things interesting. In one
single Twizzler, there are about five grams of sugar - not so bad - but the real problem
is: who only eats one? And you probably all know this but, since Twizzlers is a chewy
treat, meaning it will stick all over your teeth and gums, taking us back to the whole
dentist situation. Technically, they aren't dangerous to eat in low amounts - it's just
licorice after all - but a little self-control could go a long way. In other words, don't
make this a daily occurrence.
Butterfinger
Butterfinger has always been a pass-or-fail candy bar for many. Seeing this shiny wrapper
in your trick-or-treat bag would either bring you pure joy or pure disgust - there doesn't
seem to be any middle ground. But, whether you like this chocolatey bar of sugar or not,
it is what it is - a bar of sugar. The biggest danger when indulging in Butterfingers is
their "fun size" version. They're so small and convenient, it's easy to eat more than
a few - and with 85 calories, 8.5 grams of sugar, and four grams of fat in one tiny
serving, popping too many of these in your mouth is the last thing you want to do. Plus,
let's not talk about how bad for your teeth these are. Yea, the center is crunchy and
tasty, but it also has its fair share of stickiness - aka a cavity's best friend. Nestle was
apparently committed to removing all artificial colors and flavorings from their chocolate
products - including Butterfinger - but let's just say they're not always too big on keeping
promises. With high levels of artificial ingredients, such as TBHQ, hydrogenated palm
kernel oil, genetically modified corn, and citric acid, it's no wonder why Germany banned
Butterfinger from its market. You would probably be better off with any other candy bar, but
if you truly can't help yourself, just remember, everything in moderation.
As we keep moving on, take a second and hit that like button would ya - thanks.
Skittles
Skittles; everybody's favorite, colorful little candy. You've heard of "tasting the rainbow,"
well, now you can "taste the rainbow and about 9 different artificial colors, hydrogenated
fats, and sugars" - that sure doesn't sound as inviting. You see, when you “taste the
rainbow” of Skittles, you’re actually tasting many, many things that should never
be consumed by anyone - like ever. These little flashy candies contain not one, not two,
but nine kinds of artificial colors and hydrogenated oils that can be fairly lethal to your cholesterol
health. The deadly contestants are the food dyes Red #40, Yellow #6, Yellow #5 - just
to name a few. These can all cause plaque to accumulate inside your arteries, which
can damage your heart health and increase your chances of having a heart attack. And
while back in 2015, the FDA called for partially hydrogenated oils to be removed from processed
foods, it doesn't compensate for all the other atrocious ingredients found in these seemingly
innocent chewy candies. In only one pack of Skittles, there are 250 calories and 45 grams
of sugar, which can rapidly become alarming, especially when you're mindlessly eating
them in front of the TV. With the first two ingredients being sugar and corn syrup, if
you still want to indulge in these, be careful. Who knows if these might one day disappear
from our shelves.
Laffy Taffy
This one goes hand-in-hand with Airheads - a chewy, cavity-inducing candy. They're also
very similar in shape, flavors, and texture - however, Laffy Taffy was the original culprit. As you've probably
guessed by now, anything that's hard to eat isn't good for your teeth, and Laffy Taffy
is not the exception to that rule. It's so easy for little pieces to get stuck in your
teeth's tiny nooks and crannies and stay there unnoticed eventually causing damage to the
enamel. But, dental hazards are one thing - and if it were the only thing wrong with
Laffy Taffy, maybe we could let it slide - but sadly, there's more to the story. Laffy Taffy
contains a lot of hydrogenated oils, which is basically just a fancy way to say trans
fat. If you ingest too much trans fat, the level of cholesterol in your blood will undoubtedly
climb, which puts you at risk for an array of heart conditions. Hydrogenated oils have
also been linked to neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Still feel like snacking on that Laffy Taffy? What about this; this taffy contains artificial
colors, which have yet to reach a scientific consensus on whether or not these dyes are
safe, and yet, research has shown some undesirable risks. It's just something to keep in mind
next time you feel like thoughtlessly munching on a Laffy Taffy.
Tootsie Roll
This seems to be another candy on the "pass-or-fail" list. You either love Tootsie Rolls or hate
them with a passion. Some argue that it's the perfect little snack, while others are
too freaked out to see a "chocolate" candy that never melts. Invented in 1896 by a Brooklyn
food tinkerer, Tootsie Rolls are a Halloween classic, whether you like it or not. However,
you've got to ask yourself, if they're still on the trick-or-treating circuit after 125
years, then they must be doing something right? Made primarily of sugar - 19 grams for every
40-gram serving, to be exact - Tootsie Rolls may have less fat than other candy, but what
it lacks in fat, it compensates for in other areas - like corn syrup and partially hydrogenated
soybean oil. The bad side of this oil is the hydrogen atoms added to it to extend its shelf life.
It's basically a trans fat that's less expensive than animal fat, and that can raise your risk
of developing heart disease. That's mostly because it raises levels of low-density lipoprotein
or "bad" cholesterol. It's because of this oil that the U.S military used to value them
as a source of "quick energy" in wartime because they wouldn't melt in hot weather and had
a ridiculously long shelf life. But, that still doesn't mean that they're a great source
of energy today.
AirHeads
Have you ever looked at someone and thought, "wow, what an airhead?" Well, this is how
this iconic candy got its name and soon created a huge hype around it. And, um, not to call
people names or anything, but eating Airheads isn't exactly the most thoughtful and smartest
decision. Because, obviously, Airheads don't contain air, they contain sugar - and lots
of it. These are packed to the brim with pure sugar, and you all know what sugar does to
your teeth, right? It destroys them! The chewy, taffy-like texture might be fun and make the
candy last longer, but the chewier it is, the harder it is to remove from your teeth
- even after brushing. The leftovers leave cavity-causing bacteria lingering in the mouth
which are extremely hard to get rid of. And, what's up with that white-grey mystery flavor
thing? You would think that a mystery flavor would scare people off. If you don't know
what you're eating, it would seem reasonable to steer clear of the stuff. But clearly,
that's not the case - it just adds to the mystery. Airheads may take you back to simpler
times when you were a kid, but is that nostalgia really worth a possible future with high blood
pressure? The only good side of Airheads? They're apparently vegan - so there's that.
Other than that, they're just a cavity-catastrophe waiting to happen.
Kit Kat
Before you get too upset, we are not saying that a Kit Kat bar is bad in terms of taste
- that's non-negotiable. But we are saying that Kit Kat is one of the most unhealthy
candy bars on the market. And yes, they are highly addictive, no matter what flavor you
choose to get, but every single one has its flaws. Let's go with the original flavor first.
Kit Kats are impressively high in fat, calories, and carbohydrates, and it's all in the form
of a chocolate-covered wafer candy full of sugar. Explaining how too much sugar and fat
can be damaging to your health is pretty unnecessary at this point, so we'll spare you the details.
However, this doesn't really apply to the people living in Europe. Kit Kats are made
a little differently in the UK. The British-made chocolate bar is higher in fat and cocoa,
resulting in a richer, smoother flavor, while the American-made chocolate bar contains
more sugar than you could imagine. The commercials are always telling people to "have a break,
have a Kit Kat," but the truth is, you should take that break with something a little better
for your health. Like fruit or a vegetable. Now, if you want to eat one single Kit Kat every
once in a while, it probably won't cause any major health issues, so knock yourself out,
but just don't overdo it.
Toffee Crisp
It's quite possible that many of you have no idea what Toffee Crisp is. The reason why
is simple, it has been banned in the United States since 2014 - and it's kind of a shame,
too. Toffee Crisp is a British candy bar produced by Nestle that made its way to America back
in the early 1980s. A delicious combination of biscuit, crispy cereal, and caramel all
covered in tasty chocolate; what's not to love, right? Sure, it contains a somewhat
high sugar amount, but that's not the reason this bad boy's privilege to be sold in the
US was revoked. It turns out; sometimes, it isn’t what’s inside the candy that matters,
but rather what's wrapped around it. And so, Hershey ended up filing a lawsuit against L.B.B.
Imports (and another smaller candy importer) for importing specialty chocolates. Why? Apparently,
several of the chocolate bars that were coming into the US were infringing on the company’s
trademarks. The Toffee Crisp packaging looked very similar to a Hershey's product - Reese's
Peanut Butter Cups, to be exact. They claimed that using the same bright orange wrapping
could confuse customers who wanted to buy the Reese's cups, and it would end up creating
a drop in sales. L.B.B. and Hershey finally settled, and imports of British-made Cadbury
chocolates stopped in the US. This particular candy might not kill you, but it sure could've
killed an entire brand - at least, according to Hershey.
Baby Ruth
Whether or not you want to believe that the Baby Ruth chocolate bar was named after famous
baseball player Babe Ruth, they kind of go hand in hand now. Chances are, when you think
about one of them, you can't help but think about the other. No matter how much Baby Ruth
might be associated with one of the best professional baseball players, it doesn't make it any better
for you. Baby Ruth candy bars have been a fan favorite since 1921 and have gathered
quite a big following. But, just because it's popular and has been around forever, it doesn't
mean that they're any good for your health. You shouldn't be fooled by the healthy-looking,
protein-packed peanuts that cover this bar - it's only camouflage to hide all the bad
stuff. Just like while Babe Ruth might have been the number one slugger back in his day,
sugar is the number one ingredient in Baby Ruths. Sure, the combination of chocolate
and nuts can be filling and satisfy your sweet tooth, but with 10 grams of sugar in one
fun-size bar, you might as well just eat a spoonful of white sugar instead! You would
probably get the same sugar rush, anyway. Plus, it's part of the Nestlé family, meaning
they most likely still have all the same artificial ingredients, making Baby Ruth just as harmful
Butterfingers - maybe even more so. Here's a solution, do like Babe Ruth and knock this
candy out of the park - and out of your life.
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