On the occasion of Halloween, the bar of 50 million packets and boxes of candy will be crossed. While at the same time, the government is considering taxing sugary products more.
A historic candy sales record
A spell or a treat? It seems that the French have decided: today, if 6 out of 10 of them celebrate Halloween, 1 in 2 households buy candy to distribute for the occasion. Result: sales of confectionery reached record highs in 2024, surpassing the previous 2023 record of 130 million euros worth of candy for Halloween, twice as much as 10 years ago.
Unlimited candy and sweets, a nightmare for dentists
Whether they are shaped like bats, spiders, pumpkins or little ghosts, candies for children (and adults) contain sugar that is harmful to oral health. Among the worst treats for the teeth, caramels, sticky candies and those that take a long time to suck rise to the top spot. And for good reason: coating and adherent, they prolong the contact between sugar and the tooth, which increases the risk of decay. Worse: the very popular acidic candies directly attack tooth enamel, potentially causing it to erode.
To limit the damage, it is of course recommended not to snack on sweets continuously throughout the day. From there to encouraging children to devour all their candy at once…
A craze for sweets soon to be curbed by a new tax on sugar?
While children prepare their treat bags, the government is considering a new tax on sugary products. In the midst of examining the PLFSS 2025, Geneviève Darrieussecq, the Minister of Health, mentioned wanting to tax sugary products processed in food sold in supermarkets. And especially candy. But it has since backpedaled, faced with the outcry from agri-food manufacturers.
In addition to its economic nature, this new tax on sugar aimed to “raise awareness among the population and better prevent chronic diseases and addictions“. According to Yannick Neuder, general rapporteur of the Social Security budget, and professional cardiologist, “20 to 30% of young people consume 100 grams of sugar per day in France“. In its recommendations, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends not exceeding 50 g of sugar per day (with an optimal intake of 25 g/day).
