Jan S.

Research-Based Argument Essay

“It was all fun until I got my head stuck in a wall,” said 19 year old Dawnielle Woodman to our reporters. She did that right after eating jelly beans and sliding down the stairs on a blanket. This proves that food dyes and chemicals inside jelly beans and other candy are harmful to not only your health, but to your actions. Food dyes cause people to harm themselves. That is one of the many reasons why major candy companies should discontinue making their harmful candies. The 20th century is over. The 21st century has begun. Let's change America for once and for all.

One reason why I think that the major candy companies should discontinue making their candies is because America's health is at risk. People are having problems with sugar rush, diabetes, and obesity.  Sugar is the leading cause of tooth decay in America. The serving size of a Hershey bar is 3 tiny squares! The Hershey bar label states there are 24 grams of sugar per serving. That is more sugar than a 20 fl. oz. bottle of Gatorade. Too much sugar in the diet can lead to diabetes and obesity as well as heart disease. The Hershey bar also has 1.5 grams of TRANS FAT. TRANS FAT!!! Trans fats are probably the worst thing your body can intake. Trans fat is a major factor in obesity. Artificial flavors and poisonous chemicals found in candy also contribute to disease. A little bit of propane (gas) is included in artificial flavors. Researcher Michael Jacobson, director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says, “There is substantial evidence showing that food dyes trigger hyperactivity in kids. Just another reason for Hershey and Mars to discontinue using their artificial food dyes and candies.  Another example involved a girl who said, “I accidentally ate too many jelly-beans. I got the idea of sliding down the stairs on a blanket. It was all fun until I got my head stuck in the wall.”  

The next major reason why candy companies should discontinue making candy is because they are cheating and lying. On a Hershey's label there is no plain cacao. There is only cocoa butter! They should actually say in their ad, there is no cocoa in this product!  Also, what is unfair is that the companies are targeting kids with holiday wrapping and activities on their packaging. They are promising a prize for finding codes on the wrapper. A clever way candy companies advertise on the internet is to offer free candy. Do you know why? Because kids will think, “Oh look free candy! If it’s free then I will not have to ask mom for her credit card number.” Then, under the advertisement in small print, it says: this offer includes a $5.99 shipping fee. It is too small to read, so kids can buy the candy and get in huge trouble with their parents. Not only will the parents have to pay $5.99, but they might get lots of ads from the company and that will waste paper which can lead to deforestation.

Now, the last reason why I think major candy companies should discontinue making their candies is because of illegal labor practices. Child labor abuse occurs on many cocoa farms where underage children are forced to work long hours with very little pay, if they even are paid. Many people say that child labor abuse no longer exists, however that is not true. Other companies say they have put in many millions of dollars to stop child labor abuse, however, none of those efforts ever worked. In fact, over 2 million children and adults work on cocoa farms today. That number should be reduced and should not include children. The people who work on the farms should at least earn a living wage.

Many people agree with experts that almost all candy is unhealthy. Some people are addicted to candy. The candy companies put special chemicals into the candy to make them look colorful and taste good at the same time. After all, that is how they make business. Why have machines made candy when you can have a piece of nature's candy, an orange for instance. The choice is yours to take. Either you take the jack-hammer-on-the-teeth path or the daily recommended limit of 30 grams. Now that you have read this article, please stay away from the candy aisle in the grocery store.