Halloween is upon us, which means one thing: a mass sugar high is incoming. (And let’s not forget the last-minute scramble for costumes, either.)
Kids coming home with armfuls of lollies and chocolates sounds like a recipe for nutritional chaos, but
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All that sugar… should I be looking for sugar-free alternatives?
Naturally, the main concern with Halloween sweets is the sugar content – but Shine stresses it isn’t “inherently bad” for children’s health.
“Of course, we don’t want children eating large amounts of added sugar every day. But in the context of an overall healthy diet, eating more treats than usual on a special occasion like Halloween isn’t something to
Should I be worried about the other ingredients?
Sugar aside, ingredients and additives like colours, flavours and preservatives that are also common in lollies can concern parents. However, Shine says this shouldn’t be a cause for worry in most cases.
“Adverse reactions to particular additives can occur, but they’re uncommon. If a child has a known reaction to a specific additive, parents can check ingredient lists to avoid that ingredient,” she said.
The dietitian adds that food additives serve practical purposes, including helping to maintain food safety, and are assessed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) before being approved for use.
“The presence of an additive in a food doesn’t automatically mean that food poses a health risk,” Shine said.
She also highlights the presence of fearmongering around food additives in online content that “isn’t supported by strong evidence”.
“This often stems from misunderstandings about nutrition science and toxicology,” she said.
“Claims about additives often overlook the role of dose in determining whether something can cause harm. In excessively large amounts, even substances we need to survive, including water, can be harmful.
