Away with artificial dyes!
I love candy. And who doesn’t? I especially love peppermint candy, really anything peppermint for that matter.
Let me cut it to you straight: I’ve been looking for candy that is free of dyes and allergen friendly to send to my son’s preschool for the holidays.
When I was young, candy canes were the choice treat to share with my friends (per my mom),
so I thought,
“Hey, how about I do that as a tradition with my son, too?”
Heading over to Thrive Market, I found some mini candy canes, paying $8.79 for 30 of them.
I could get a pack of 40 at Target for $3.50 (Thrive Market seems outrageously expensive), but if I’m going to send them to my child’s preschool,
I want to make sure they are a healthier alternative to regular candy canes sold in our typical retail grocery store.
The Yum Earth candy canes are non-GMO verified, Big 9 Allergen friendly, USDA Organic, Vegan and Cor 606 Pareve (Kosher certified).
What does it mean when it says “Big 9 Allergen Friendly on the box? I initially looked up on google, but quickly realized when I flipped the package over to read the label they were all listed on the back.
Gluten-free, egg free, shellfish free, fish free, peanut free, tree nut free, soy free, dairy free and sesame free. And there ya go. The Big 9.
The ingredients are all organic, and they include no corn syrups like the usual candy canes.
Organic Cane Sugar
Organic Brown Rice Syrup
Natural Peppermint Flavor
Organic fruit and vegetable Concentrate (Radish, Apple, and Blackcurrant)
But you know what the biggest “MOM WIN” is?! No artificial dyes!
I don’t know if you have ever researched artificial dyes, but there are horrific side effects from consuming them! For example, Red Dye-40 causes behavioral changes like irritability, depression and hyperactivity (YES! This means ADHD as well) in CHILDREN!
Artificial dyes are a “HECK NO!” in this momma’s house!
So of course, I am thinking of the teachers when I am choosing to send sweet treats to school for other kiddos.
You’re welcome, teachers. Your job is hard enough without creating extra angst in the classroom.
Sergio Bicas founded Yum Earth in October 2005, as he set out with the mission to make safer, allergen-friendly, and tasty treats that you can feel good about sharing with family or friends.
“Make life’s moments a little sweet, simpler, and filled with joy!”
That’s the motto of Yum Earth. (Yum Earth YumEarth | Organic Candy | Allergy Friendly Candy)
The candy canes arrived at my home from Thrive Market individually wrapped, but many were broken. Then, when I tore the plastic off of the box, they tumbled into my lap. I expected them to stay in the box. Clearly I was wrong. Frustrating!
Dear Yum Earth,
You owe me exactly 12 new, unbroken candy canes. Thank you.
Sincerely, Me
As I took the first candy cane to taste, I noticed these sweet treats have the SAME sugar content of “regular” candy canes; however, the sugar in Yum Earth’s is natural and organic, so I consider it to be a “better-for-you” sugar.
As I held the candy cane in my hands and looked at it closely, I noticed it–and most of others–didn’t have a “candy cane” shape, but more of a goofy-looking letter C. Mold problem, perhaps?
As per usual with candy canes, they are an extreme pain-in-the-butt to open. So I sat there for about 5 minutes trying to unwrap it.
I then wondered how difficult it might be for a kiddo to open these suckers.
After successfully wrangling the candy cane, it was unwrapped.
I took half the broken candy cane and put it in my mouth. As imagined, it tasted like peppermint,
but I can’t say that it tasted just like a regular candy cane though.
It had a much “healthier, cleaner” taste, perhaps because it’s organic.
I equate this taste difference to what I get with green tea. Green tea that isn’t organic often has a fishy essence to it–quite nasty. But organic green tea is cleaner tasting and more herbal (or as my husband says, “herby” HAH!).
Organic is good!
It may sound strange to hear me say this candy cane tastes healthier,
especially when sugar grams are consistent with traditional candy canes,
but eating these makes me feel like it’s a healthier choice, so there it is.
These are, indeed, mouthwatering peppermint candy canes.
Beyond the packaging, candy shape, and broken pieces I found in the box,