The sweet truth about trick or treating

Why one night of sugar-fuelled fun isn't the real problem – and what parents should watch for the rest of the year

- by David McLean

Walk through any supermarket at this time of year and you'll see shelves stacked with Hallowe'en treats. Hallowe'en and candy go hand in hand but what does all that sugar really mean for children?

The World Health Organization recommends that “free sugars” (sugar that is added to foods, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and fruit juices) make up less than 10% of total energy intake, and ideally under 5%. That's roughly no more than 10g per day for ages 1-2, 14g for ages 2-3, 19g for ages 4-6, 24g for ages 7-10, and 30g for ages 11+.

To put that in perspective, a small biscuit contains around 4g of sugar, a treat-sized bag of sweets about 13g, and a single lollipop roughly 10g. A successful trick-or-treat haul can easily push a child past their recommended daily limit several times over.