USA Today estimates $2.7 billion worth of candy to be bought specifically for Halloween this year. Parents all over America go loading their shopping carts with bags full of candy all for one night of festivities. Americans spending this surplus of money on candy is a wonderful thing, however, it’s distasteful that some of these people are spending it on candy corn.
I remember my days as a youth when I would have my pumpkin-shaped bucket filled to the limit with an array of different candy. My mom would sort through it, and she’d then create a pile of “good candy” that I would immediately attack once she gave me the word. Every year I would open a bag of candy corn, hoping maybe I would finally enjoy it, resulting in me grimacing as I spit the yellow-orange mush back into the bag. There went a good eighth of my candy in the trash.
It’s unfortunate trick-or-treaters can end up with a bag filled with treats and knick-knacks they don’t enjoy. Many would say “you get what you get and you don’t throw a fit” but it’s pointless to spend so much money on candy that may just end up in a dump. 
Candy corn doesn’t have much to vouch for itself. Not only is it terrible in taste, but its nutritional value is close to none. According to health website “Eat This, Not That!” Brach’s candy corn is proudly “made with real honey” — an ingredient that’s unfortunately wedged right between four other types of sugar, gelatin, sesame oil and artificial flavors and colors. The point of candy isn’t to be nutritionally filling, but it seems sprinkling cane sugar on a child’s tongue is even better than candy corn.
What should candy corn be replaced with? There are many options, though chocolate is the easiest go-to. It has been scientifically proven that eating chocolate in moderation can possibly prolong someone’s life by reducing the risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholesterol. Considering lactose-intolerant individuals, there are also many types of dark chocolate that are both savory and lactose-free.
The New York Post stated over 3,000 pounds of Dylan’s Candy Bar candy corn is sold each year. In comparison, 90 million pounds of chocolate is sold just in the week preceding Halloween. Most Americans enjoy chocolate and shouldn’t be subjected to receiving candy corn on Halloween. 
There will always be people who love candy corn. Clearly, candy corn is still being sold regularly and consumed by many. However, it’s important to keep the candy corn as a choice for children to eat, not automatically thrown into their bags and buckets to be later thrown into their trash cans.
Chantelle Baker is a 20-year-old communication studies senior from Waipahu, Hawaii.