Candy Blog

Saturday, August 18, 2007

This Week in Candy - Candy is Energy!

The FDA and the new chocolate labeling standards may be years away, but there is a bigger threat to candy right now. Actually, there are several threads. First, energy prices have gone through the roof and industrious people are looking for alternatives, especially biofuels. But biofuels use some of the very same crops that we actually eat. So enter the huge competition going on right now for corn products (corn syrup). Add to that that the United States has a little thing called The Farm Bill and subsidies that make sugar strangely expensive in this country.

Look for the competition for corn to heat up amongst meat producers, food producers and energy makers. You’ll feel the pinch at the checkout stand in higher prices. You may also notice that some of our American candy will be made in other countries.

This isn’t just limited to to the United States. Haribo recently gave notice that their prices will be going up as a direct result of the fight over food and energy. Sure, candy is a low priority use, but it’s not going to end there. Gummi bears are the canary in the coal mine of food.

Chow took on the topic of Licorice, that other black gold.

The story mentions the resurgence of interest in the traditional candy and goes on to mention that Economy Candy has added 10-12 new varieties in just that past two months. Looks like I’ll need to make another trip. (Here are my licorice reviews.)

In other stories around the blogs:

Candy Addict has a list of the Top 10 Candy Jingles ... I’m afraid it skews rather young and neglects a few that I grew up on (or maybe they just don’t think they’re that great). If there’s one thing they confirm, it’s that they just don’t write jingles like they used to.

Chocolate Bytes has a massive list of chocolate themed merchandise ... chocolate coasters, chocolate charms and chocolate cell phone strap charms (something I’ve just never quite understood).

And finally, Evil Mad Scientist brings news that Bawls Mints have been discontinued and quietly replaced with what they call the lesser Bawls Buzz. I’m not particularly upset as I didn’t care for the overpriced and non-minted mints, but I respect other people’s candy choices and right to be upset.

This week’s candy review recap:

Monday: Amano Single Origin Bars (8 out of 10)

Tuesday: Bit-O-Honey (6 out of 10)

Wednesday: Craves Chocolate Sticks (8 out of 10)

Thursday: Goodbye Tart n Tiny (9 out of 10)

Friday: Crown Jewel Orange Chocolate Truffles (5 out of 10)

Weekly average: 7.20 (60% chocolate content)

Related Candies

POSTED BY Cybele AT 4:30 pm Candy • Fun Stuff • News •

Comments

Ohhhh! Sounds like I need to head over to Economy Candy too!

Comment by Sera on 8/18/07 at 10:36 pm
What best flavors for energy candy, do you think the best . . .

Comment by Nat on 8/18/08 at 5:11 pm

Next entry: Chunky

Previous entry: Crown Jewels Chocolate Orange Truffles

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