Consumers to Enjoy Halloween Treats in Moderation: NCA

Consumers will no doubt indulge in their share of sweet treats during Halloween this year, though moderation will be the focus for many Americans when it comes to candy consumption, according to the National Confectioners Association (NCA).

The results of NCA's latest survey finds that nearly 80 percent of parents report having a plan to help their children make smart decisions when it comes to the enjoyment of treats, and more than 90 percent discuss or plan to discuss balance and moderation.

“Parents, including me, are embracing Halloween celebrations and traditions, but we’re also using the holiday as an opportunity to teach our children how to enjoy candy as a fun part of a balanced lifestyle," said Alison Bodor, EVP of the NCA.

To keep tabs on their children's candy consumption, some parents will limit their children to a certain number of pieces per day (35 percent), a total number of pieces overall (14 percent), or a general amount of calories (9 percent) and then take the rest away. Further, 21 percent opt to take responsibility for the candy and dole it out as appropriate.

NCA projects that retail sales of Halloween candy in 2015 will be $2.6 billion, a boost to the U.S. economy that helps support 55,000 manufacturing jobs and hundreds of thousands of jobs in related industries.