Check the label before you treat!
Halloween should be fun, spooky, and just a little sugary—but that doesn’t mean your candy bowl has to be filled with artificial dyes, corn syrup, and mystery ingredients. If you’re trying to offer treats that are easier to digest (literally and figuratively), there are now plenty of options that skip artificial colors, high-fructose corn syrup, and unnecessary additives.
Below, we break down how popular “cleaner” candy brands like YumEarth and Unreal compare to classics like Snickers, Reese’s, M&M’s, Starburst, and Sweetarts—so you can build a Halloween stash that’s delicious and more ingredient-conscious.
🍬 Why Consider “Better-For-You” Halloween Candy?
Most mainstream candy contains:
- Artificial food dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6)
- High-fructose corn syrup
- TBHQ or other preservatives
- Titanium dioxide (found in many chewy candies—banned in the EU!)
- Cheap oils (palm oil, hydrogenated oils)
- Excessive added sugars with no balance of protein or fiber
Alternative brands focus on:
✅ Organic ingredients
✅ Dye-free colors from fruits & veggies
✅ Lower sugar options
✅ No high-fructose corn syrup
✅ Fewer additives
✅ More allergy-friendly choices
In other words: same spirit, fewer spooky ingredients.
🍏 1. YumEarth vs. Popular Fruity Candies (Starburst, Sweetarts, Skittles)
🍭 YumEarth
- Organic ingredients
- Colored with real fruit & vegetable extracts
- No artificial dyes
- No high-fructose corn syrup
- Allergy-friendly (top 8 free)
- Generally lower in added sugar per piece
👉 [YumEarth Halloween Variety Pack — https://amzn.to/4hAHDOJ ]
🍬 Popular Alternatives
Starburst, Skittles, Sweetarts:
- Contain artificial dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5 & 6, Blue 1)
- Use corn syrup & high-fructose corn syrup
- Often contain titanium dioxide (depending on product)
- Higher sugar per serving
✅ Upgrade Verdict: If you want dye-free, allergy-friendly, and fewer questionable additives, YumEarth is a major upgrade without losing flavor.
🍫 2. Unreal vs. Chocolate Classics (Snickers, M&M’s, Reese’s)
🍫 Unreal Chocolate
- Uses no artificial dyes
- Less sugar than traditional chocolate candies
- Uses colored coatings from beets, spirulina & turmeric (for “M&M-style” pieces)
- Offers coconut sugar–sweetened options
- No corn syrup
- Uses fair-trade chocolate
👉 [Unreal Chocolate Variety — https://amzn.to/47y5Qk5
🍫 Popular Alternatives
Reese’s, Snickers, M&M’s:
- Contain artificial dyes (especially M&M’s)
- Often include TBHQ/PGPR emulsifiers
- Hydrogenated oils in some varieties
- Higher sugar content
- Peanut butter cups often contain unnecessary additives
✅ Upgrade Verdict: If you want a chocolate option that reduces sugar and skips the dyes, Unreal gives you the nostalgic flavor without the long ingredient list.
🌱 3. SmartSweets or Zolli Candy vs. Sugary Gummies
🍬 SmartSweets (low sugar)
- Very low sugar
- No artificial dyes
- Uses soluble fiber for sweetness
- Free from high-fructose corn syrup
👉 [SmartSweets Lollipops — https://amzn.to/4hDceuY
🍬 Zollipops (sugar-free)
- Sweetened with xylitol & erythritol
- Promote oral health (“The Clean Teeth Candy”)
- No dyes
👉 [Zolli Halloween Mix — https://amzn.to/4ojElSw ]
🍬 Gummy Classics
Haribo, Trolli, etc.:
- High sugar (20–30g per serving)
- Artificial flavors & dyes
- Some varieties contain titanium dioxide
✅ Upgrade Verdict: For low-sugar or sugar-free trick-or-treaters, these options cut back on sweetness without sacrificing the fun shapes.
👻 4. So… Do You Need to Replace All Candy?
Nope! It’s still Halloween—fun matters.
But if you can swap even 20–50% of your bowl for dye-free, lower-sugar, or simpler-ingredient options, you give kids (and adults) treats that feel indulgent without all the artificial extras.
Try a mix:
🎃 50% brand-name classics (for nostalgia)
🎃 50% cleaner swaps (for peace of mind)
Everyone wins.
🧙♀️ EDN’s Halloween Recommendations
Here are the top picks to mix into your candy cauldron this year:
- YumEarth Organic Pops — dye-free fruity fun
👉 https://amzn.to/4hD2PTX - Unreal Peanut Gems — like M&M’s but with plant-based color
👉 https://amzn.to/4hFOMxh - Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars — a cleaner Mounds
👉 https://amzn.to/47pjhCA - SmartSweets Gummies — lower sugar, still chewy
👉 https://amzn.to/47l7Qxf - Zolli Lollipops — zero sugar, kid-approved
👉 https://amzn.to/3JmMjuR
🎉 Final Bite
Halloween doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. With a few swaps, your candy bowl can feel more nourishing and less… frightening. And kids usually don’t even notice—they just know it tastes good.
This year, check the label, treat smartly, and enjoy a healthier haul. 🍬🎃