From Your Health Journal…..”A very interesting article on the ABC News web site written by Liz Neporent entitled Candymaker Pledges To Fight Obesity. As the article suggests soda taxes and proposals to limit super size sweetened drinks already sweeping the nation, candy could be the next target in the war against obesity. Americans do seem to have an insatiable appetite for sweet treats. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, we consume more than 7.7 billion pounds of candy each year — about 25 pounds per person. Approximately 60 percent of that total is from chocolate, with gummy bears, chewing gum and a wide variety of other non-chocolate confections making up the remainder. As obesity numbers soar in many parts of the world, these facts do present an interesting concern. It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out, what the candy makers will do (smaller portions or resealable bags to limit eating an entire candy bar), and government involvement. Please visit the ABC web site (link provided below) to read the complete article. It is well written and informative.”

From the article…..

With soda taxes and proposals to limit super size sweetened drinks already sweeping the nation, candy could be the next target in the war against obesity. There’s an inkling that candy manufacturers suspect this and are taking steps to head off future regulation.

Speaking at last week’s National Confectioners Association meeting in Miami, Debra Sandler, the president of Mars Chocolate in North America, tried to rally major candymakers to come up with ways to help solve the obesity crisis before government forces step in and force them to.

As first reported by the candy trade publication Confectionery News, Sandler said in her speech, “If we don’t [act], I worry that someone else will do it for us. … We need the whole industry to step up. … We are not judged by the leaders of the category but by those who do not take responsibility for change.”

Calls and emails to Mars Inc. and the National Confectioners Association by ABC News seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Americans do seem to have an insatiable appetite for sweet treats. We consume more than 7.7 billion pounds of candy each year — about 25 pounds per person — according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Approximately 60 percent of that total is from chocolate, with gummy bears, chewing gum and a wide variety of other nonchocolate confections making up the remainder.

To read the complete article…..Click here