US trend to loading up on Halloween lollies concerns parents

CHILDHOOD obesity is way scarier than Halloween, nutritionists say, but their cause is not being helped by supermarkets hyping the imported tradition.

Grant Jones National Food Writer

4 min read

October 23, 2013 - 9:30PM

News Corp Australia Network

THE growing popularity of Halloween is fast becoming a nightmare for parents trying to put a stop to children gobbling up exploding lolly eyeballs and jelly brains.

The US-borrowed trend barely registered a few years ago, but is now so popular whole streets are turning into the haunts of witches and ghouls with children roaming about in fake bloodstained costumes dipping hands into buckets filled with sugar-filled and colour-loaded lollies.

Six years ago, Woolworths didn't sell any Halloween-specific merchandise at all. In 2013 - with the biggest week of Halloween sales still ahead - Woolies reports sales of Halloween confectionery has so far increased by 185 per cent over last year.

The Australian Medical Association has voiced concern, with the Medical Journal of Australia recently publishing The Dark Side To Halloween: Marketing Unhealthy Products To Our Children?

The report found Halloween contributes to the rampant obesity among children which could lead to diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

"In the US each year, US$8 billion is spent on Halloween-related items, including US$2.4 billion on confectionery, a number that exceeds sales at Easter, Christmas and Valentine's Day," one of the authors of the report, Dr Nathan J. Grills, said.

"In 2012, leading Australian supermarkets recorded increases of up to 30 per cent in sales of such merchandise in the lead-up to Halloween."

In the US last year, 15-year-old Nicky Bronner helped start a campaign to "Unjunk America", and developed a confectionery brand, along with expat Australian chef Adam Melonas, free from artificial colours and flavours, corn oil and genetically modified ingredients. They also set a goal to reduce sugar by 50 per serving. Names such as Giselle Bundchen and Matt Damon got behind the product.

Nutritionist Susie Burrell. Picture: Craig Greenhill

Nutritionist Susie Burrell said, ideally, parents should try to give out small treats such as a single lollipop or individual chocolate rather than a large volume of self-served treats.

"It's not children consuming lollies occasionally that is the issue but the large volume of high calorie treat-type foods that can be collected and then consumed in a very short period of time," she said.

"It is about all adults out there being responsible and if they wish to offer treats for Halloween, monitor the portions, offer smaller treats and if you are a parent, take control and ration what is collected."

James Meldrum, co-founder of organic and additive free brand Whole Kids, said Australian children are bombarded with advertising for sugary soft drinks, lollies and chocolate on TV, billboards, social media, smartphone apps and junk food sponsorship of sports events.

"You only need to walk the aisles of the supermarkets at the moment and you can see Halloween themed sweets, confectionery and choccy. I haven't see any promotions for healthy Halloween treats," said Mr Meldrum who developed Whole Kids, healthier kids' treats now in Woolworths, with wife Monica.

"A lot of it is about changing attitudes as well as changing behaviour. Parents are under a lot of pressure from pester power with TV advertising and movie tie-ins with junk foods," he said.

Mr Meldrum is calling for a tightening of laws around junk food marketing to children and is encouraging parents to consider the health of their children during the festivities but said he was not trying to be a spoilsport.

"Excuse the pun but Halloween is a tricky time. It's not something that is part of our cultural background, it's something we have adopted and I think we are particularly seeing the approach to marketing around Halloween, around food, it is adopting more of the American custom, where sweets and candy and confectionery is all part of the trick or treating that kids do. That has not gone unnoticed by food companies here.

"Parents need to be quite conscious of what goes in that that trick or treat bag. Because it does influence behaviours, it does influence what kids discuss around the lunch box at school and around the playground. It is an important event to demonstrate good eating behaviours as well."

The AMA report also mentioned other dangers from Halloween including foodborne disease, contaminated food and food allergies from peanuts, and children in dark clothing running in and out of traffic.

Krysten and Rhyan Chapman dress the part for Halloween. Picture: Derrick Tonkin

TOP TIPS

• Encourage children to dress up, to focus on the fun rather than treats

• Create a fun exercise for the family by carving out a pumpkin and roasting the offcuts

• Make popcorn necklaces from fishing line

• Orange pumpkins: use non-toxic markers to draw Jack O'Lantern faces on oranges or mandarins

• Boo-nana ghosts: roll a peeled banana in shredded coconut and use raisins for eyes, then place on an ice cream stick.

• Offer juice boxes rather than cans of soft drink

• Offer individually wrapped cheese rather than chocolate

• Keep a bowl of apples on hand

Sahara Laulau takes part in Halloween dress-ups.

HALLOWEEN ETIQUTTE

For trick-or-treaters:

Regardless of whether you are 5 or 25, don't wear inappropriate costumes.

Have fun but behave as you go from house to house.

Ring the doorbell once and only once. If there is no bell, then knock - but not as if you're trying to break down the door.

Say "trick-or-treat" in a friendly, enthusiastic voice. Be sure to say thank you if you are given treats.

Don't go back to the same house twice. Once is enough.

Don't get upset if you don't get treats - and definitely no egging houses.

Don't talk to strangers unless you are trick-or-treating from them, don't go in their house and make sure to check your treats for anything suspicious before you eat them.