10 Banned Candies That Can Kill (Part 3)

Ah, candy. The one thing you could eat a ton of as a kid and never sick of – until you got sick because of it, but that’s besides the point. As much as candy is liked and cherished around the world, some are shockingly bad for you, possibly even deadly. Choose your next candy wisely as we list down 10 Banned Candies That Can Kill (Part 3).

10. Toffee Crisp

It’s quite possible that many of you have no idea what Toffee Crisp is. The reason why is simple, it has been banned in the United States since 2014 – and it’s kind of a shame, too. Toffee Crisp is a British candy bar produced by Nestle that made its way to America back in the early 1980s. A delicious combination of biscuit, crispy cereal, and caramel all covered in tasty chocolate; what’s not to love, right? Sure, it contains a somewhat high sugar amount, but that’s not the reason this bad boy’s privilege to be sold in the US was revoked. It turns out; sometimes, it isn’t what’s inside the candy that matters, but rather what’s wrapped around it. And so, Hershey ended up filing a lawsuit against L.B.B. Imports (and another smaller candy importer) for importing specialty chocolates. Why? Apparently, several of the chocolate bars that were coming into the US were infringing on the company’s trademarks. The Toffee Crisp packaging looked very similar to a Hershey’s product – Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, to be exact. They claimed that using the same bright orange wrapping could confuse customers who wanted to buy the Reese’s cups, and it would end up creating a drop in sales. L.B.B. and Hershey finally settled, and imports of British-made Cadbury chocolates stopped in the US. This particular candy might not kill you, but it sure could’ve killed an entire brand – at least, according to Hershey.

9. Butterfinger

Butterfinger has always been a pass-or-fail candy bar for many. Seeing this shiny wrapper in your trick-or-treat bag would either bring you pure joy or pure disgust – there doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. But, whether you like this chocolatey bar of sugar or not, it is what it is – a bar of sugar. The biggest danger when indulging in Butterfingers is their “fun size” version. They’re so small and convenient, it’s easy to eat more than a few – and with 85 calories, 8.5 grams of sugar, and four grams of fat in one tiny serving, popping too many of these in your mouth is the last thing you want to do. Plus, let’s not talk about how bad for your teeth these are. Yea, the center is crunchy and tasty, but it also comes has its fair share of stickiness – aka a cavity’s best friend. Nestle was apparently committed to removing all artificial colors and flavorings from their chocolate products – including Butterfinger – but let’s just say they’re not always too big on keeping promises. With high levels of artificial ingredients, such as TBHQ, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, genetically modified corn, and citric acid, it’s no wonder why Germany banned Butterfinger from its market. It might still be in circulation over here, but that doesn’t mean that it should be. You would probably be better off with any other candy bar, but if you truly can’t help yourself, just remember, everything in moderation. 

7. Baby Ruth

Whether or not you want to believe that the Baby Ruth chocolate bar was named after famous baseball player Babe Ruth , they kind of go hand in hand now. Chances are, when you think about one of them, you can’t help but think about the other. No matter how much Baby Ruth might be associated with one of the best professional baseball players, it doesn’t make it any better for you. Baby Ruth candy bars have been a fan favorite since 1921 and have gathered quite a big following. But, just because it’s popular and has been around forever, it doesn’t mean that they’re any good for your health. You shouldn’t be fooled by the healthy-looking, protein-packed peanuts that cover this bar – it’s only camouflage to hide all the bad stuff. Just like While Babe Ruth might have been the number one slugger back in his day, sugar is the number one ingredient in Baby Ruths. Sure, the combination of chocolate and nuts can be filling and satisfy your sweet tooth, but with 10 grams of sugar in one fun-size bar, you might as well just eat a spoonful of white sugar instead! You would probably get the same sugar rush, anyway. Plus, it’s part of the Nestlé family, meaning they most likely still have all the same artificial ingredients, making Baby Ruth just as harmful Butterfingers – maybe even more so. Here’s a solution, do like Babe Ruth and knock this candy out of the park – and out of your life. 

6. AirHeads

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, “wow, what an airhead?” Well, this is how this iconic candy got its name and soon created a huge hype around it. And, um, not to call people names or anything, but eating Airheads isn’t exactly the most thoughtful and smartest decision. Because, obviously, Airheads don’t contain air, they contain sugar – and lots of it. These are packed to the brim with pure sugar, and you all know what sugar does to your teeth, right? It destroys them! The chewy, taffy-like texture might be fun and make the candy last longer, but the chewier it is, the harder it is to remove from your teeth – even after brushing. The leftovers leave cavity-causing bacteria lingering in the mouth which are extremely hard to get rid of. And, what’s up with that white-grey mystery flavor thing? You would think that a mystery flavor would scare people off. If you don’t know what you’re eating, it would seem reasonable to steer clear of the stuff. But clearly, that’s not the case – it just adds to the mystery. Airheads may take you back to simpler times when you were a kid, but is that nostalgia really worth a possible future with high blood pressure? The only good side of Airheads? They’re apparently vegan – so there’s that. Other than that, they’re just a cavity-catastrophe waiting to happen. 

5. Kit Kat

Before you get too upset, we are not saying that a Kit Kat bar is bad in terms of taste – that’s non-negotiable. But we are saying that Kit Kat is one of the most unhealthy candy bars on the market. And yes, they are highly addictive, no matter what flavor you choose to get, but every single one has its flaws. Let’s go with the original flavor first. Kit Kats are impressively high in fat, calories, and carbohydrates, and it’s all in the form of a chocolate-covered wafer candy full of sugar. Explaining how too much sugar and fat can be damaging to your health is pretty unnecessary at this point, so we’ll spare you the details. However, this doesn’t really apply to the people living in Europe. Kit Kats are made a little differently in the UK. The British-made chocolate bar is higher in fat and cocoa, resulting in a richer, smoother flavor, while the American-made chocolate bar contains more sugar than you could imagine. The commercials are always telling people to “have a break, have a Kit Kat,” but the truth is, you should take that break with something a little better for your health. Like fruit or a vegetable. Now, if you want to eat one single Kit Kat every once in a while, it probably won’t cause any major health issues, so knock yourself out, but just don’t overdo it.

4. Laffy Taffy

This one goes hand-in-hand with Airheads – a chewy, cavity-inducing candy. They’re also very similar in shape, flavors, and texture – however, Laffy Taffy was the original culprit. As you’ve probably guessed by now, anything that’s hard to eat isn’t good for your teeth, and Laffy Taffy is not the exception to that rule. It’s so easy for little pieces to get stuck in your teeth’s tiny nooks and crannies and stay there unnoticed eventually causing damage to the enamel. But, dental hazards are one thing – and if it were the only thing wrong with Laffy Taffy, maybe we could let it slide – but sadly, there’s more to the story. Laffy Taffy contains a lot of hydrogenated oils, which is basically just a fancy way to say trans fat. If you ingest too much trans fat, the level of cholesterol in your blood will undoubtedly climb, which puts you at risk for an array of heart conditions. Hydrogenated oils have also been linked to neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Still feel like snacking on that Laffy Taffy? What about this; this taffy contains artificial colors, which have yet to reach a scientific consensus on whether or not these dyes are safe, and yet, research has shown some undesirable risks. It’s just something to keep in mind next time you feel like thoughtlessly munching on a Laffy Taffy. 

3. Tootsie Roll

This seems to be another candy on the “pass-or-fail” list. You either love Tootsie Rolls or hate them with a passion. Some argue that it’s the perfect little snack, while others are too freaked out to see a “chocolate” candy that never melts. Invented in 1896 by a Brooklyn food tinkerer, Tootsie Rolls are a Halloween classic, whether you like it or not. However, you’ve got to ask yourself, if they’re still on the trick-or-treating circuit after 125 years, then they must be doing something right… Right? Made primarily of sugar – 19 grams for every 40-gram servings, to be exact – Tootsie Rolls may have less fat than other candy, but what it lacks in fat, it compensates for in other areas – like corn syrup and partially hydrogenated soybean oil. The bad side of this oil is the hydrogen atoms added to it to extend its shelf life. It’s basically a trans fat that’s less expensive than animal fat, and that can raise your risk of developing heart disease. That’s mostly because it raises levels of low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol. It’s because of this oil that the U.S military used to value them as a source of “quick energy” in wartime because they wouldn’t melt in hot weather and had a ridiculously long shelf life. But, that still doesn’t mean that they’re a great source of energy today.

2.  Starburst

Coming from the same family as our beloved Skittles, it’s no surprise that Starburst candies would share the same fate – destined to be bad for you. They might be colorful, fun, and gluten-free, but that doesn’t mean that they’re without risk. In fact, they’re one of the worst candies of all in terms of nutrition. Let’s just say that the ingredients that make the fruity squares so “unexplainably juicy” aren’t exactly the most natural. Of course, Starburst contains a lot of sugar – a solid 34 grams for one pack – 240 calories, corn syrup, and to top it off; it has zero grams of dietary fiber and no protein. Not exactly the definition of a “sweet deal.” They also obviously contain food coloring and that environmentally destructive palm oil we’ve mentioned before. But, no matter how unhealthy and bad for your teeth those Starburst squares are, they always seem to sell like hotcakes. Why? Probably because they taste so yummy, people don’t bother thinking about what they’re putting in their bodies. Next time you’re craving something fruity, juicy, and colorful, why not go for an actual fruit instead? It’s guaranteed that one of them will be better for you in the long run. 

1. Twizzlers

A true movie theater classic. Twizzlers might not be the most popular candy today, but people still fight over the last piece of red licorice in the pack. Invented in 1845. Twizzlers definitely knows a thing or two about how to successfully brand a candy – but we can’t really say the same about its ability to brand a healthy candy. For years, Twizzlers has been marketed as “low fat,” but don’t let that fool you. It might be low in fat, but it quickly catches up in terms of sugar. These delicious twists consist almost entirely of sugar – oh, and along with some refined flour and artificial additives, you know, to keep things interesting. In one single Twizzler, there are about five grams of sugar -not so bad – but the real problem is: who only eats one? And you probably all know this but, since Twizzlers is a chewy treat, meaning it will stick all over your teeth and gums, taking us back to the whole dentist situation. Technically, they aren’t dangerous to eat in low amounts – it’s just licorice after all- but a little self-control could go a long way. In other words, don’t make this a daily occurrence. 

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