Chocolate Coins with Melamine in Canada

For all of my Canadian readers I would like to pass on the message to go through your children’s Halloween candy and watch out for any chocolate gold coins made by Sherwood. They were made in China and contain some of the chocolate that was contaminated with Melamine. To see my other post about recalled candy from China see HERE. Melamine can be highly toxic when ingested.

The chocolate was sold at Costco in Canada and possibly at dollar stores and bulk stores. The chocolate did not reach the U.S.

To verify the gold coin recall you can go to Snopes.

http://www.snopes.com/food/warnings/coins.asp

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A Dye Free Halloween

Since Halloween is fast approaching and I know there are a lot of parents out there who are wanting to avoid food dye and other chemical additives in their children’s candy I wanted to link to a post that I wrote last year entitled Halloween in Crunchville – Dye Free Candy. Within the post I link to many websites that sell dye free candy and other treats.

Today we bought Camden’s Halloween candy from Squirrels Nest (which we adore!). They have a really nice Halloween sampler pack for $13.95. You can find all of their Halloween products HERE but hurry, they go fast! They also sell a sampler pack that is gluten free and casein free.

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It’s that time again boys and girls…

It’s time for more recalls! Without further adieu.

Recalls for 10/25/07

Halloween Pails (lead) – Dollar Store: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08051.html

Football Bobble Head Cake Toppers (lead): http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08050.html

More Jo Ann’s Garden Tools (lead): http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08049.html

Diego Toy Boat (Lead): http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08048.html

Dollar Tree Metal Jewelry (lead): http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08045.html

Shrek & Spiderman Metal Jewelry (lead): http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08044.html

Cars Game Pieces (magnets): http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08039.html

For a list of all children’s lead based recalls go HERE.

For a list of toys made in America go HERE.

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Halloween in Crunchville – Dye Free Candy

I grew up celebrating Halloween like millions of other kids in America. I enjoyed it. Probably for no good reason other than it was fun to dress up and I like candy. Is that a good reason to perpetuate the Holiday? I don’t know but frankly I’m not ready to morally question Halloween yet. I like it and for now that is enough. Rather than a moral dilemma, I have had a bigger concern with how to allow my daughter to participate in Halloween without being bombarded with artificial dyes and flavors that turn her into a raving lunatic as well as peanut containing products which could send her to the Hospital in anaphylactic shock.

I was VERY happy to have stumbled upon Yummy Earth candies. We purchased their 5lb bag of Organic Assorted Lollipops at a 50% discount since we are Feingold members. We received the suckers within days and let me just tell you these things are DELICIOUS! They taste way better than any store-bought suckers not to mention they are all natural. The flavors in the assorted bag are delectable – pomegranate, watermelon, tango mango & lemon. They are literally the best suckers I have ever had.

So for those of you also concerned with how to get your artificial dye sensitive child some safe candy you can purchase lots of different varieties online. We just plan on letting her Trick-or-Treat like normal and at the end we will exchange all of her candy for the “safe” candy. If I had more time and felt like it I would just pre-visit my neighbors and ask them to reserve the safe candy for her.

Here is a list of all natural and dye free candy:

Yummy Earth

Jewels of Denial

Squirrels Nest

Pure Fun

Divvies

Dolphin Natural Chocolates

Simon’s Candy Company

Sunspire

CrispyCat Candy Bars

Glee Gum

YC Chocolate

You may also have good luck finding dye free and natural candies at places like Trader Joe’s & Whole Foods.

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