Candy Dish Blog

Yesterday the Center for Science in the Public Interest continued its campaign against food dyes or colors by issuing a new report that suggests food dyes “pose risks of cancer, hyperactivity in children, and allergies.” Although the report is 58 pages long it does not present any new previously un-reviewed scientific research.  CSPI itself notes that the cancer link is tenuous at best. 

The fact is that colors are an important component of confections providing distinguishing characteristics, flavor recognition and appeal.  All certified colors used in food production in the U.S. meet stringent FDA requirements and are safe for human consumption.  For more information, read this FDA brochure on “food ingredients and color” safety.

CSPI’s goal appears to be to create alarm among consumers thus bringing public pressure to bear, in an attempt to force the Food and Drug Administration to review their position that food colors (and indeed other ingredients in food) are safe. 

All food additives, like colors, are carefully regulated by FDA and various international organizations to ensure that foods are safe to eat and are accurately labeled. In fact today, food and color additives are more strictly studied, regulated and monitored than at any other time in history.

It’s always smart to understand what ingredients are used in the food products you eat and to be informed about your health, and it’s good to know that the some of the top scientists in the world at FDA are helping us learn what is safe and good to eat.

Colour Wheel by Tiny_Packages

In response to an investigation into a recent outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium NewLinked to peanut butter and peanut paste, the National Confectioners Association has developed a table for consumers to check the status of their favorite confectionery products.  The contamination has been NewLinked to the Peanut Corporation of America whose products are sold and used within a variety of industries.  While some confectionery manufacturers, especially makers of health and nutrition bars, do purchase from the source, the majority of peanut, peanut butter and peanut paste containing candies are safe for consumption at this time.

The FDA is keeping a comprehensive list of the products recalled that are not safe for consumption on its Web site, while NCA’s table lists products containing peanut butter that are safe to eat.  More than 90 percent of commercially available candy products using peanut butter as an ingredient are free from contamination.

It pays to read things like this so we can all be better-informed consumers. Know the food you buy and be aware of situations like this. As always, we will report any new findings on our site so everyone can stay up-to-date.

• Peanut Corporation of America has issued a voluntary recall on some of their products because of contamination with salmonella.


• PCA is not the only supplier of peanut butter and paste but is the only one we know of with this issue.


• Peanut butter is a delicious ingredient in many candy products.

Given all this, we are soliciting and looking for information from candy companies that use peanut butter or paste in their products and will be posting a table of specific manufacturers' information as soon as we can get it. Several of our members have already informed us they manufacture their own peanut butter or their peanut butter is sourced outside the factory but is completely safe. We will post a NewLink here at CandyDishBlog.com as soon as we have more information. I know this is not very informative, but we wanted you to know that more information is on the way.

Peanut Butter by clada74.

This week I have gotten a lot of e-mails from friends and others – moms, educators and concerned community members – about the safety of Halloween products regarding the industrial chemical melamine.  Most of these e-mails have focused on chocolate gold coins. You may have gotten these e-mails yourself.  In fact, the great Internet investigators over at Snopes have even spent some time looking into it.

Unfortunately, while the original senders probably had extremely noble intentions, confusion and questions have been generated instead.

I know that every American who plans to hand out candy this Halloween wants to be sure that he or she is buying products safe for kids. Parents, more than anyone, want to be sure the candy they give their children is not harmful.  And people have asked me, "Is what I read online true?".  It’s clear that people are a little scared, with just cause, and we wanted to help allay some of the fears.

Please know that a safe and secure food supply is the industry’s number one goal and concern every day of the year.

The information about chocolate gold coins and melamine contamination that has been circulated widely on the Internet is partially true, but important safety facts are missing in some of the e-mails. 

Here are the real facts:

It’s true that a single shipment of chocolate coins in Canada was recalled due to melamine prior to the global awareness that some milk products and ingredients in China had been contaminated with melamine. The product was only sold to Costco Canada and has already been reclaimed.  A recall is not in place in the U.S because the product was never shipped to the USA and not available here. Only one brand is impacted at this time, and even then only the product that was was sold in Canada was affected.  The company has been incredibly diligent about working with Canadian government and communicating with the industry throughout the whole process.

U.S. confectionery companies doing business in China have stringent quality control procedures in place for production of candy. These companies began testing product immediately when the alert on melamine contamination of milk was first issued.   Additionally, all foods from China containing milk are being tested now by FDA at the border prior to entry.

Many companies make chocolate gold coins, especially around this time of year.  Most are manufactured in the U.S., Germany, Belgium or Turkey and all are perfectly safe to eat. Other gold coins made in China are also safe to eat now that manufacturers are aware of the milk supply contamination and that milk has been destroyed.  Again, FDA is testing all Chinese imports with milk as an ingredient.

As you know if you’ve been reading the blog, only one candy in the U.S. has been recalled due to melamine contamination – White Rabbit candy, a product made in China, by a Chinese company and sold mainly in Asian markets.  If you have White Rabbit candy, the Food and Drug Administration advises you to throw it away or return it to the store.  Do not eat White Rabbit candy at this time. 

You can read our statement on the issue on the CandyUSA Web site.  Please feel free to share it or this post with friends.

Again, there is nothing more important to us than ensuring a safe food supply and helping people celebrate a fun and safe and healthy Halloween.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

• The NCA’s position is clear: any candy product, regardless of its country of origin, must meet the same stringent safety standards that U.S. products meet.
  
• Candy imported from China accounts for less than one percent (0.7%) of all confectionery sold in the United States.
  
• Chocolate products produced in North America do not contain milk or milk products imported from China.
  
• NCA recommends consumers:
  
  
  
  • Discard any White Rabbit confectionery product imported from China (White Rabbit is the brand name of a white, chewy, taffy-like candy).
    
  • Be aware that a small shipment of chocolate gold coins in Canada was found to contain melamine. At this time, the product appears to have been only available in Canada where a recall is underway and the majority of the product has been reclaimed.
    
  
  

If you have questions about melamine and its possible health impacts, you can read more about it on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Web site.

Remember - the source of this issue is contaminated Chinese milk products. One good way of dealing with the uncertainty of whether your favorite product is safe is to go to the manufacturer's web sites to see if they have product news that might address your concerns. If you still have doubts about a particular product, you can contact the company and they will be happy to give you the full scoop. Not all chocolate products from China are bad or tainted. Many have been tested already and been shown to be fine.

Chocolate makers abide by strict government regulations in order to ensure the quality and safety of chocolate products sold in the US. Last week the Food and Drug Administration announced that the agency has expanded its testing of food products imported from China. NCA agrees with this action; all candy products sold in the US, regardless of country of origin, must meet the same stringent safety standards.

Chocolate products produced in North America do not source milk or milk products from China. Consumers can continue to enjoy their favorite chocolates knowing they are as wholesome and safe as ever.