Organic Candies: 10 Organic, Natural, and Healthier Alternatives!
Looking for a healthy alternative to your favorite sugary treat? Check out these 10 organic and natural candies that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth! Made without harmful additives, artificial colors, and high-fructose corn syrup. These treats are a healthier option for those looking for a sweet snack, or a healthier option to give out during special occasions like Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, Birthday Piñata fun, World Chocolate Day, and the list goes on! I also snuck in some organic candy alternatives like fruit snacks and chocolate granola bars.
Is Organic Candy Healthier?
With organic candies, ingredients tend to be healthier HOWEVER there is usually about the same amount of sugar (slightly less) so just because a candy is labeled as organic or natural doesn’t mean you should be eating more of it. Continue the in moderation approach (or if you are like me you sneak waaaay too much of your kids Halloween candy so there’s def a lack of moderation in my world during certain times of the year, ha!)
The ingredients in organic candy are typically simpler and more natural, which means they are less processed and therefore less likely to contain harmful chemicals and additives. After looking at the nutritional info organic candy tends to have the same amount of saturated fat, and fat, and slightly less sugar.
Also you should have seen me gasp when I saw Prop 65 callouts on some of the candies, more on that below. As far as I know, these candies do not appear on this list.
What does organic candy mean?
Organic candy is made with ingredients that are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Organic farmers also practice sustainable farming methods, such as crop rotation and cover cropping, to improve soil health and protect the environment. More often farmers participate in Fair Trade production as well.
Here’s a great guide to learn more: https://yumearth.com/blogs/sweet-source/know-what-your-eating-a-guide-to-understanding-organic-food-labels
What ingredients should be avoided in candy?
Additives: Titanium Dioxide, TBHQ, BHT
The EWG reported these three additives should be avoided in candy.
Titanium Dioxide makes candy have a smooth texture, and bright color. As I’m writing this article it can still be found in skittles, starburst, and swedish fish. EWG states the following harmful effects as “Scientists have warned for years about the potential health risks of titanium dioxide because it can accumulate in the body and lead to DNA damage and hormone disruption.” Also the European Food Safety Authority state it’s unsafe for consumption
TBHQ extends the shelf life of candy and can be found in Reese’s. EWG states it can harm the immune system and “other studies have shown how the additive can impair flu vaccine efficacy and raise the risk of food allergies.
BHT can be found in Charm Blow Pops, and Quaker chewy granola bars. “Some studies have shown it can cause cancer in animals and may act as an endocrine disruptor.”
Artificial Colors
Some of the common food dyes we are exposed to in food and beverages are Red No. 40, followed by Yellow No. 5 and Yellow No. 6. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) reported that “evidence from human studies indicates that synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse neurobehavioral outcomes in children, and that children vary in their sensitivity to synthetic food dyes.” This includes inattentiveness, hyperactivity and restlessness in sensitive children.”
Pub Med reported on the following health concerns with artificial colors “Red 3 causes cancer in animals, and there is evidence that several other dyes also are carcinogenic. Three dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) have been found to be contaminated with benzidine or other carcinogens. At least four dyes (Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6) cause hypersensitivity reactions.” Yikes!
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Many sources will state high fructose corn syrup isn’t different from other sweeteners, however there are studies showing this may not be true and can lead to weight gain and obesity. Princeton University did a study and reported “When rats are drinking high-fructose corn syrup at levels well below those in soda pop, they’re becoming obese — every single one, across the board. Even when rats are fed a high-fat diet, you don’t see this; they don’t all gain extra weight.” The takeaway from most studies is too much sweetener of any kind is not good for us.
Next up, we have a list of the most popular candies and with each one I will recommend a better organic or natural option.
10 Organic and Natural Candies – Healthier Alternatives to Your Favorites!
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We are going to include the traditional candy, list the ingredients with the concerning ingredients bolded. Will also include some nutrition information. The healthier, organic, natural, and better for you candy will be shown including ingredients and nutrition info for comparison. Overall I found that nutrition wise the organic candy had slightly higher fat and saturated fat, slightly lower sugar (exception is stevia extract which has significantly lower sugar content). The main takeaway is these candies do not carry the same concerning ingredients noted above: additives, artificial color, high fructose corn syrup.
Unreal Dark Chocolate Peanut Gems (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Dark Chocolate (Chocolate Liquor‡, Cane Sugar‡, Cocoa Butter‡, Vanilla), Roasted Peanuts (Peanuts, Peanut Oil), Organic Cane Sugar‡, Gum Acacia, Colored With (Beet Juice, Spirulina Extract), Organic Tapioca Syrup, Carnauba Wax. ‡Fair Trade Certified By Fair Trade Usa. 68% Fair Trade Certified Ingredients.
Nutrition: 30 g serving size: 10 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 13 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Peanut M&M’s
Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Skim Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Peanuts, Soy Lecithin, Salt, Artificial Flavors), Sugar, Peanuts, Cornstarch, Less Than 1% – Corn Syrup, Dextrin, Coloring (Includes Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 2), Gum Acacia.
Nutrition 29 g serving size: 8 g Fat, 3 g saturated fat, 15 g sugar
Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Cacao Beans (Rainforest Alliance Certified), Organic Cocoa Butter (Rainforest Alliance Certified), Organic Soya Lecithin [Emulsifier]), Organic Peanut Butter (Organic Ground Peanuts), Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Peanut Flour, Organic Palm Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Sunflower Lecithin.
Nutrition 40 g 1 serving (2 regular size pieces): 14 g fat, 7 g saturated fat, 16 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients: Milk Chocolate [Sugar; Cocoa Butter; Chocolate; Skim Milk; Milk Fat; Lactose; Lecithin (Soy); Pgpr]; Peanuts; Sugar; Dextrose; Salt; Tbhq And Citric Acid, To Maintain Freshness.
Nutrition 42 g 1 serving (2 regular size pieces): 12 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 22 g sugar
Yum Earth Organic Strawberry Licorice (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: organic cane sugar, organic rice syrup, organic rice flour, organic corn starch, organic palm oil, natural flavor, citric acid, sodium citrate, organic strawberry juice concentrate, organic licorice extract, salt, colored with organic concentrates (carrot, apple, blackcurrant), organic carnauba wax, organic sunflower oil.
Nutrition: 30 g (15 pieces: .5 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 16 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Twizzler’s
Ingredients: Corn Syrup; Enriched Wheat Flour [Flour; Niacin; Ferrous Sulfate; Thiamin Mononitrate; Riboflavin; Folic Acid]; Sugar; Cornstarch; Contains 2% Or Less Of: Palm Oil; Salt; Artificial Flavor; Citric Acid; Artificial Color [Red 40]; Mineral Oil; Lecithin (Soy).
Nutrition: 34 g (13 pieces), .5 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 14 g sugar
Ocho Organic Milk Chocolate Caramel & Peanut Bars (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Trade Cocoa Butter, Organic Whole Milk Powder, Organic & Fair Trade Cacao Beans, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Peanuts, Organic Sweetened Condensed Milk (Organic Milk, Organic Sugar), Organic Peanut Butter (Organic Peanuts), Organic Butter (Organic Cream, Salt), Organic Sugar (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Tapioca Starch), Water, Sea Salt, Organic Egg Whites, Organic Vanilla Extract. *CONTAINS PEANUTS, MILK, EGGS*
Nutrition: 1 bar serving size, 9 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 24 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Snickers
Ingredients: MILK CHOCOLATE (SUGAR, COCOA BUTTER, CHOCOLATE, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, MILKFAT, SOY LECITHIN), PEANUTS, CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PALM OIL, SKIM MILK, LACTOSE, SALT, EGG WHITES, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR.
Nutrition: 1 bar serving size, 12 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 27 g sugar
Little Secrets Milk Chocolate and Cookie Bar (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Fair Trade Certified Tm Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Wheat Flour, Palm Oil*, Nonfat Milk Powder, Fair Trade Certified Tm Cocoa Butter, Fair Trade Certified Tm Chocolate Liquor, Butterfat, Whey Milk, Salt, Fair Trade Certified Tm Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin (An Emulsifier), Baking Soda, Vanilla Extract
Nutrition: 25 g serving size, 6 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 11 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Twix
Ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Pgpr, Artificial Flavors), Enriched Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Sugar, Palm Oil, Corn Syrup, Skim Milk, Dextrose, Less Than 2% – Salt, Cocoa Powder, Soy Lecithin, Modified Corn Starch, Baking Soda, Artificial Flavor.
Nutrition: 22 g serving size, 5 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 11 g sugar
Yum Earth Organic Candy Corn (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Shellac, Organic Sunflower Oil, Salt, Organic Annatto (Color), Organic Honey, Natural Flavor, Organic Egg White Powder, Organic Turmeric (Color), Organic Rice Protein, Organic Carnauba Wax
Nutrition: 19.8 g serving size, 0 g fat, 14 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Brach’s Candy Corn
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Salt, Dextrose, Gelatin, Artificial Flavor, Honey, Yellow 6, Sesame Oil, Yellow 5, Red 3.
Nutrition: 31 g serving size, 0 g fat, 23 g sugar
Yum Earth Organic Giggles Candy Bites (Better for you alternative!)
Organic cane sugar, organic rice syrup, organic palm oil, organic natural flavors, citric acid, sodium citric, turmeric (color), organic sunflower lecithin, malic acid, (radish, carrot, sweet potato, blackcurrant) for color, organic carnauba wax, spirulina concentrate (color), pectin.
Nutrition: 30 g serving size, 1.5 g fat, .5 saturated fat, 22 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Skittles
Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL; LESS THAN 2% OF: CITRIC ACID, TAPIOCA DEXTRIN, MODIFIED CORN STARCH, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, COLORS (RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BLUE 1 LAKE, YELLOW 6, RED 40, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1), SODIUM CITRATE, CARNAUBA WAX.
Nutrition: 27 g serving size, 1 g fat, 1 saturated fat, 21 g sugar
Smart Sweets Sour Blast Buddies (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Non-Gmo Soluble Corn Fiber, Allulose, Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (Vegetable Source), Lactic Acid, Chicory Root Fiber, Pectin, Rice Flour, Fumaric Acid, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural Berry, Blue Raspberry, Orange, Lemon, And Lime Flavors, Sodium Citrate, Fruit And Vegetable Juice (For Color), Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Spirulina Extract (For Color), Stevia Leaf Extract.
Nutrition: 50 g serving size, 0 g fat, 3 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Sour Patch Kids
Sugar, Invert Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Contains Less Than 2% Of Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavor, Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1.
Nutrition: 30 g serving size, 0 g fat, 24 g sugar
Annie’s Organic Chewy Granola Bars, Chocolate Chip (Better for you alternative!)
Ingredients: Granola* (whole grain oats*, tapioca syrup*, cane sugar*, sunflower oil*, sea salt, baking soda), Tapioca Syrup*, Rice Crisp* (rice*, cane sugar*, sea salt, brown rice syrup*), Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips* (cane sugar*, chocolate*, cocoa butter*, vanilla extract*), Palm Oil*, Whole Oat Flour*, Rice Flour*, Natural Flavor*, Sunflower Lecithin*, Sea Salt. *Organic
Nutrition: 1 bar serving size, 3 g fat, 1.5 saturated fat, 7 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Quaker Chewy Granola Bars, Chocolate Chip
Ingredients: Granola (Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Brown Sugar, Crisp Rice [Rice Flour, Sugar, Salt, Malted Barley Extract],Whole Grain Rolled Wheat, Soybean Oil, Dried Coconut, Whole Wheat Flour, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, Caramel Color, Nonfat Dry Milk), Semisweet Chocolate Chips (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract), Corn Syrup, Brown Rice Crisp (Whole Grain Brown Rice, Sugar, Malted Barley Flour, Salt), Invert Sugar, Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Glycerin, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% Or Less of Sorbitol, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Water, Soy Lecithin, Molasses, Natural And Artificial Flavor, BHT (Preservative), Citric Acid. Contains Wheat, Coconut, Soy And Milk Ingredients. May Contain Traces of Peanut And Other Tree Nuts.
Nutrition: 1 bar serving size, 1.5 saturated fat, 7 g sugar
Organic and Natural Alternative: Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
Ingredients: Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Tapioca Syrup Solids, Organic Pear Juice Concentrate, Water, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Organic Natural Flavor, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Color (organic black carrot, organic black currant extracts), Organic Carnauba Wax.Summer Strawberry Best Ingredients: Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Tapioca Syrup Solids, Organic Pear Juice Concentrate, Water, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C), Organic Natural Flavor, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Color (organic black carrot, organic black currant extracts), Organic Carnauba Wax.
Nutrition: 1 pouch serving size, 0 g fat, 12 g sugar
Traditional/Original Candy: Welch’s Mixed Fruit Snacks
Ingredients: Fruit Puree (Grape, Peach, Orange, Strawberry and Raspberry), Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Gelatin, Concord Grape Juice from Concentrate, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Vitamin A Palmitate, Sodium Citrate, Coconut Oil, Carnauba Wax, Annatto (Color), Turmeric (Color), Red 40, Blue 1
Nutrition: 1 pouch serving size, 0 g fat, 11 g sugar
What Candy to Avoid?
While I was doing my research I was SHOCKED to find some candy had Prop 65 warnings. HUH?!?!?! For example I was looking for a Kit Kat alternative and found Little Secrets Crispy Wafer products. Then I discovered their Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt: Peanut Butter in Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Sea Salt, and Almond Butter in Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt all had a prop 65 warning because of the chemical Acrylamide which is a carcinogen. I had never heard of this chemical. If you want to find out more about this specific chemical check out this article, interesting stuff. So make sure you read your labels! Interesting enough I found Prop 65 warnings easily when the product was listed on Walmart, but not finding it on Amazon or Target.
Final Thoughts
Organic candies and more natural candies are a nice alternative to traditional candy. In terms of ingredients, it’s healthier for you since it doesn’t contain harmful additives, artificial colors, and high-fructose corn syrup. However it still has similar nutritional value like the amount of sugar so still enjoy in moderation! Also be sure to check your labels for warnings or ingredients that you may not be familiar with. I was surprised and shocked when I saw Prop 65 warning on some candies. Otherwise, enjoy your sweet treat!
