10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (2024)

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10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (1)

Do you even know what’s in those Skittles? (Photos: Demand Media Studio)

Candy is meant to be a treat, but even when consumed in moderation some varieties push the wellness envelope. To have your sweets and stay healthy too, limit candy that’s particularly high in sugar, unhealthy fats and artificial ingredients. Read on for 10 candies that can really spook your health.

1. 3 Musketeers
3 Musketeers are marketed as a “lighter” way to enjoy chocolate. Lighter than what? A single candy bar has five grams of saturated fat and more sugar than three Krispy Kreme doughnuts! This bar is also guilty of “sneaky trans fats” – the nutrition label states there are zero grams but hydrogenated palm kernel oil and/or palm oil (a type of trans fat) is listed as an ingredient. Trans fats are able to slip in if they contain less than the required threshold for the nutrition facts panel.

2. Starburst
They may suit gluten-free diets, but Starbursts aren’t without risk. The ingredient that makes the fruity squares “unexplainably juicy” isn’t as healthy as it sounds. The first three ingredients listed? Sugar, corn syrup and apple-juice concentrate – also known as sugar, sugar and sugar. There are 22 grams of sugar in just nine pieces.

Related: 9 Scary Side Effects of Social Drinking

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (3)

3. Reese’s Pieces
Don’t let the peanut-buttery taste fool you into thinking these are in any way healthy. Sugar, hydrogenated palm kernel and soybean oil, corn syrup and dextrose are some of the first few ingredients listed. Artificial colors Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake and so on round out the list. Just don’t.

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (4)

4. Skittles
When you “taste the rainbow” of Skittles, you’re actually tasting sugar and some not-good-for-you fats. Skittles contain nine different artificial colors and hydrogenated oil (aka trans fats). These chemically engineered fats can be lethal to your cholesterol health. They cause plaque to accumulate inside your arteries, which can cause a heart attack. In fact, in 2015 the FDA called for partially hydrogenated oils to be removed from processed foods.

5. Whoppers
Sugar, corn syrup and hydrogenated palm kernel oil are the first three ingredients listed in these little malted balls. One serving (18 pieces) will whop you with 24 grams of sugar and seven grams of saturated fat.

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (6)

6. M&Ms
These cute little guys are full of color: Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake and Blue 2. Like many other chocolates on the market, they contain GMOs from sugar and soy and contain artificial flavors to boot.

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (7)

7. Candy Corn
Enter another sticky, sugary, full-of-fake-ingredients treat. For many people, Halloween just isn’t right without candy corn. From a dietary standpoint, though, they’re more likely a trick than a treat. Even brands that list “real honey” as an ingredient contain 28 grams of sugar and several artificial colors in just one serving of 19 pieces. Because they’re chewy, candy corn may also stick to your teeth, raising the risk for cavities.

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (8)

8. Sour Patch Kids
Naturally colorful foods are highly nutritious, but Sour Patch Kids definitely don’t grow on trees. The fruity flavors and colors aren’t derived from actual fruit. Consisting mostly of sugar and corn syrup, these sweet and tart candies also contain artificial flavors and colors. The United States Food and Drug Administration maintains that artificial additives like Yellow 5 are safe, but the science is mixed, so some food companies are responding to consumer concern by removing these food dyes and turning to natural alternatives.

Related: 8 Healthy Apple Snacks

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (9)

9. Twizzlers
Don’t let the “low fat” marketing fool you. What they lack in fat they make up for in sugar. Twizzlers consist almost entirely of sugar (along with some refined flour and artificial additives to keep things interesting). One piece provides five grams of sugar. But who eats just one? Since it’s also a chewy treat, the sugar will likely stick where it’s least welcome – all over your teeth and gums.

10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (10)

10. Mounds
Coconut may be the single redeeming quality of these chocolate candies. The bar is essentially a mound of corn syrup and artificial flavors. Another plus is that it’s lower in sugar compared with other typical candy bars (10 grams per bar), but what it lacks in sugar it makes up for in saturated fat, with 10 grams per bar (or 50 percent of the Daily Value)! Hershey’s has promised to remove genetically products from their Kisses and chocolate milk products. They’re also removing artificial flavors, colors and high fructose corn syrup over the next few years.

The original article “The 20 Most Dangerous Candies“ appeared on LIVESTRONG.COM.

By August McLaughlin

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The Scary Truth About Halloween

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10 Most Dangerous and Unhealthy Candies (2024)

FAQs

What candies should I avoid? ›

Taffy and candies filled with caramel, coconut or nuts are the worst kinds of candy for your teeth because they stick to everything inside your mouth, including the grooves of your teeth. The longer a food sticks to your teeth, the longer bacteria can feed on it, which could produce cavity causing acid.

What is the most unhealthy candy bar? ›

Here are the top five candy bars to avoid:
  • 3 Musketeers.
  • Milky Way.
  • Baby Ruth.
  • Chocolatey PayDay. They're like a normal PayDay bar wrapped in chocolate.
  • Mr. Goodbar.
Oct 8, 2020

What candy is bad for kids? ›

Sour candies – these are usually gummy candies that are covered in a sour-tasting dust. The sour-tasting dust is extremely acidic and can wear away the protective enamel on your child's teeth. Some examples of sour candies include Sour Patch Kids, hard candies covered in sour dust, and sour gummy worms.

What is the most safest candy? ›

What is the healthiest common candy? Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or more) is often considered one of the healthiest options. It contains less sugar and is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which may have heart-healthy benefits.

Are Starburst bad for you? ›

Starbursts. When you can't pronounce most of the product's ingredients, it's safe to say you probably shouldn't eat it. There is just no nutritional value here, friends — zero grams of dietary fiber, no protein and high in sugar.

Are Jolly Ranchers bad for you? ›

Jolly Ranchers. One Jolly Rancher contains 7 grams of sugar and 40 calories, making these candies a close second to Smarties in the healthiest Halloween candy game. But remember, that's just one Rancher, so if you grab a handful, you'll need to multiply these numbers.

What is the most fattening candy? ›

The Highest Calorie Candy Bars
  • Symphony milk chocolate bar: 149 calories/ounce.
  • Skor: 149 calories/ounce.
  • Mr. ...
  • Kit Kat: 145 calories/ounce.
  • Hershey's Chocolate Bar with Almonds: 144 calories/ounce.
  • Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: 144 calories/ounce.
  • Peanut M&Ms: 144 calories/ounce.
  • Twix Caramel: 143 calories/ounce.

How many candies a day is OK? ›

Sugar should not constitute more than 10% of your daily energy intake. Assuming an adult's caloric intake is 2000 calories, we should not consume more than 200 calories per day from sugar, which equates to 10 teaspoons of sugar, 4 marshmallows, 4 bonbons, or 4 candies.

How bad are M&Ms for you? ›

Contains a high level of saturated fat

For this reason it has long been known as a "bad" fat that raises the "bad" cholesterol, LDL.

What is the most unhealthy snack ever? ›

40 Unhealthiest Snacks on the Planet
  1. Little Debbie Zebra Cakes. Little Debbie. ...
  2. Smucker's Goober Grape. Smucker's. ...
  3. Ritz Bits Cheese Sandwich Crackers. Target. ...
  4. Turtle Chex Mix. Chex Mix. ...
  5. Little Debbie Swiss Rolls. Target. ...
  6. Doritos Nacho Cheese. Walmart. ...
  7. Mac's Salt&Vinegar Pork Skins. Courtesy of Walmart. ...
  8. Hostess Old Fashioned Donettes.
Jun 20, 2024

What is the unhealthiest chocolate to eat? ›

White chocolate not only has more saturated fat than any other type of chocolate, but lacks the healthy phytochemicals found in cocoa and dark chocolate.

What candies are not safe? ›

According to BabyCenter, the following candies should not be given to children under the age of four:
  • Blow Pops.
  • Candy Corn.
  • Gummy Bears.
  • Hot Tamales.
  • Jawbreakers.
  • Jolly Ranchers.
  • M&Ms or Peanut M&Ms.
  • Milk Duds.
Oct 13, 2023

What candy is a choking hazard? ›

Candies that are round, chewy, or gummy are all considered choking hazards. To ensure you're giving safe treats to toddlers this Halloween season, opt for larger treats that melt in the mouth, like chocolate bars or cookies.

What candy has the highest sugar? ›

Nerds Candy

What candy is really bad for your teeth? ›

Chewy/sticky sweets: Gummy candies, taffy, and even dried fruit can be difficult for children and adults to resist, but they are a serious source of tooth decay, particularly when they get stuck in the crevices between teeth and make it nearly impossible for saliva to wash away.

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