TCL LIVE | Halloween Chocolates: Treat or Trick?

TheChocolateWire -
Click to watch without leaving this page.

Watch and comment on my LinkedIn profile.
Watch and comment on TheChocolateLife page on Facebook (live event).

TheChocolateWire
The Chocolate Wire is news/press/pr original content creation and aggregation service for the specialty/craft cocoa and chocolate industry. The Chocolate Wire’s mission is to promote the efforts of a diverse group of producers and makers around the world at low cost.
YouTube
Please subscribe to TheChocolateWire channel on YouTube. 

Episode Overview

In this episode, we’re going to take a look at many different recommendations for passing out “ethical” chocolate(s) to rapacious trick-or-treaters (and I am not just talking about little kids) for Halloween.

I was inspired to take on this topic because of a post mentioning Tony’s Chocolonely showed up in a Google Alert. (It’s the link below to the first Green Matters post – Try These 7 Ethical Halloween Candy Brands for a More Socially Conscious Spooky Season.)

After reading this post I started on a veritable journey down a rabbit warren of search results looking for patterns and sources that could be trusted.

You’d think it might be easy (TL;DR: It should be) ... but there is a lot of conflicting, confusing, and downright bad advice out there on the Interwebs. There are some surprisingly good takes, including from unusual sources, one of which is also among the most confusing.

As always, I will be answering questions as well as responding to comments during the livestream from participants watching on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. I also respond to questions and comments posed on those platforms as well as Instagram and Twitter by those who were not in the livestream.

For helicopter parents and social climbers, I thought this was a sobering take to take in before we dive into the topic:

Survey: Inflation will impact U.S. shoppers plans to buy Halloween candy
Advantage Solutions’ annual consumer Halloween survey reveals the impact of societal and economic trends on shopper preferences and behavior.
Snack Food & Wholesale BakeryLiz Parker
Setting the stage on spending. This one came to me from a newsletter I subscribe to.
The Halloween Candy You Give Out Reveals How Much You Care About Status
Your stash of treats often says more about you than the trick-or-treaters you’re feeding.
HuffPostElisa Shoenberger
Do you agree? Should anyone care?

It should come as no surprise that the wording of the search request changes the results. Even subtle changes can return markedly different results.

ethical candy for halloween at DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.
ethical candy for halloween
Some results follow
Try These 7 Ethical Halloween Candy Brands for a More Socially Conscious Spooky Season
Sure they may be sweet, but many popular candy brands are not made ethically. Here are candy brands out there you can feel good about supporting.
Green MattersEva Hagan
This lead to ...
Zero-Waste Halloween Candy to Give Trick-or-Treaters
Although zero-waste Halloween candy is rare, it can be zero-waste. Here are some tips for keeping your child’s trick-or-treating free of plastic.
Green MattersSophie Hirsh
Should packaging waste be a purchasing consideration?
Where to Find Ethically Sourced Chocolate Candy for Halloween
Chocolate Season is just around the corner - you know, that season that runs from Halloween through Easter - and with it comes the conundrum of how to be a part of all the seasonal events while still
Nourishing JoyKresha Faber
Another list of “ethical” brands.
This Halloween, Check Out These 12 Ethically Sourced Candies
Next week, millions of American children will swarm their neighbors’ doorsteps with open goodie bags, excited to collect their share of…
MediumMiishe Addy
Another list to sort through.

Fast Company’s Take

Vegan Halloween Candy Guide (October 2023) | PETA
Get ready for a trip down memory lane with this list of the best vegan Halloween candy to give to trick-or-treaters this year.
PETA
What PETA thinks (TL;DR – go vegan).
The Dark & Bitter Truth About Your Halloween Chocolate (+19 ethical chocolate options)
Are you buying chocolate for Halloween? You may change your mind after you discover the dark and bitter truth about your Halloween chocolate. As consumers, we vote with our dollars and need to make the most ethical and sustainable choices. If you choose to have an ethical Halloween, here are 19 Fair…
All The Nourishing ThingsRebecca Hansen
Good advice? We’ll review during the livestream ... but what do you think?
ethical halloween candy guide 2023 at DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.
ethical halloween candy guide 2023
A slightly different search query.
Ethical candy to try this Halloween
Learn how you can enjoy Halloween candy in an ethical way. Celebrate spooky season with our favorite Fairtrade chocolates and sweets!
Fairtrade AmericaKate Stritzinger
The Dark Side of Chocolate: What You Need to Know Before Buying Your Kids’ Halloween Candy This Year
“They enjoy something I suffered to make... They are eating my flesh.”
FaithitKelsey Straeter
A non-obvious source; one that is seriously confused in some ways. What does this company have to do with the others listed? And anachronistally.
Is There Child Slavery in Your Chocolate?
Chocolate may be delicious, but it has a darker side, too. Discover the link between the chocolate industry and child slave labor.
Food Revolution NetworkJohn Robbins
Better sourced than many other options.
5 Ethical Candies to Stock Your Bowl with this Halloween
Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on Halloween candy. Here are a few ideas to stock up while also contributing to a good cause.
Teak Media + CommunicationKelley Buck
A list from what appears to be a PR or MarComm company – are the listed companies all clients?
The Ultimate Guide To Halloween 2023: Costumes, Candy, Movies, and More
It’s spooky season! From sweets to costumes, StudyFinds has conjured up the ultimate guide to Halloween 2023.
Study FindsSophia Naughton
Is this really truly actually the Ultimate Guide? (Spoiler Alert: Why no, no it is not.)
Hand Out These Ethical Chocolates This Halloween
Each of these options is reasonably priced and kid-friendly, and the pieces come individually wrapped, perfect for trick or treaters.
ForbesMegan Giller
Finally – recommendations from someone who knows about chocolate.

Shared by Members

Huge Halloween Candy Haul!
The girls got a huge candy haul this Halloween!See our 2016 Halloween Candy Haul Here: https://youtu.be/_I6q7amjmB8 ----------------------------------------­…
YouTube
Sorting through the haul. Read member comments, below.
Box O’ (Mini) Chocolates
Our itty Bar Box is filled with 150 tiny chocolate bars. Perfect for afternoon pick-me-ups or gifting to a friend. Certified Kosher D.E., vegan & gluten free.
Askinosie ChocolateAskinosie Chocolate
Mini Doses
Thirty of our bean-to-bite-sized mini bars in one pantry-ready package. Perfect for those who just need a daily nibble (or more!) We offer six flavors in mini form: Oat Milk, Coconut Milk, Pink Sea Salt, 60% cacao, and 100% Cacao. Pick your favorite or try our mixed box! Mixed Boxes come with eight…
Raaka Chocolate
Chocolate Bars | TCHO Chocolate
Taste delicious plant-based chocolate bars at TCHO! Discover the most decadent vegan chocolate bars in dark chocolate, fruity, nutty and more.
Dirty Chai
Scroll down the page for boxes of minis - oat milk and dark options.

Questions? Thoughts? Contribute!

As always, I will be taking questions and comments during the livestream.

If you want to share your thoughts and/or questions in the comments below before the livestream begins, add them in the comments below.

💡
Not a member? You must be a member to comment. Click the Join button to become a Free or Premium member.

Hashtags

#chocolate #craftchocolate
#cacao #cocoa #cacau
#TheChocolateLife Live #LaVidaCocoa

Want to create programming like TheChocolateLifeLIVE?  Use the platform I use – check out StreamYard. (Affiliate link – sign up at no additional charge to you.)