According to the FDA, there is a limit on how much black licorice you should consume. “If you’re 40 or older, eating two ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.”

So, what about black licorice makes it potentially harmful? Glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin is a natural sweetener that’s extracted from licorice root. This compound is about 50 times sweeter than sugar, in fact.

“FDA’s Linda Katz, M.D., says last year the agency received a report of a black licorice aficionado who had a problem after eating the candy. And several medical journals have linked black licorice to health problems in people over 40, some of whom had a history of heart disease and/or high blood pressure.”

The FDA offers some parting words of wisdom:

• No matter what your age is, don’t consume large amounts of black licorice in one sitting.
• If you’ve eaten a lot of black licorice and have an irregular heart rhythm or muscle weakness, stop eating it immediately and contact your health provider.
• Black licorice can interact with some medications, herbs and dietary supplements. Consult a healthcare professional if you have questions about possible interactions with a drug or supplement you take.

What about all the other Halloween candy – say, chocolate bars, sweet tarts, suckers and peanut butter cups? Moderation is a good idea with those, too.

“Candy is full of empty calories, and people need to eat candy in moderation. We are also concerned about the effects of the sugar related to the development of cavities. If people eat one or two pieces of candy per day, it would be OK. But any more than that causes concern,” says Dr. Fadi Aramouni, professor of food science at Kansas State University.

It’s okay to pace your children with Halloween candy because Dr. Aramouni notes the candy will be safe to eat for several months.

When selecting candies this Halloween season, you may want to think twice before opening up a bag of black licorice. If you still choose to eat it, consume with caution and contact your primary care provider if you experience any uncomfortable symptoms. Use all the self-control you can muster with all candy and eat a few pieces at a time.

The post Should You Skip Black Licorice This Halloween? appeared first on Best Food Facts.

Best Food Facts reached out to Fadi Aramouni, Ph.D., professor of food science, Kansas State University, to find out the shelf life of Halloween candy.

“If there are safety concerns with candy, it’s usually a quality issue, not an issue of expiration date,” Dr. Aramouni said.

That’s great news for parents who want to ration out their kids’ candy so they don’t eat it all at once. (It’s also good news for parents who keep a few chocolate bars for themselves – like 72 percent of us do.) The shelf life of candy is affected by the amount of moisture and fat it contains, he explained.

“Generally, it is very difficult for candy to spoil, due to its low moisture content, but it depends on the candy. For things like hard candy and chewing gum, there really isn’t much to worry about,” Dr. Aramouni said.

He recommends following the guidelines from the National Confectioners Association on how long to keep various types of candy.

• Milk and White Chocolate: Eight to ten months
• Dark Chocolate: One to two years if wrapped in foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place.
• Hard Candy (lollipops and butterscotch candies): Up to one year when stored at room temperature or in cool, dry conditions.
• Candy Corn: About nine months while sealed and approximately three to six months after the package has been opened.
• Jellied candies: Up to one year unopened. After opening, keep in a covered candy dish six to nine months.
• Gum: Six to nine months, as long as the packaging is sealed.
• Caramel: Six to nine months when stored at room temperature and away from the heat and light.

Knowing how long candy lasts is helpful because there are many good reasons to keep back some candy and ration the treats over the next few weeks.

“Candy is full of empty calories, and people need to eat candy in moderation. We are also concerned about the effects of the sugar related to the development of cavities. If people eat one or two pieces of candy per day, it would be OK. But any more than that causes concern,” Dr. Aramouni said.

As a parent and food science expert, Dr. Armouni shares how he handles the candy question with his children.

“My kids are limited to one or two pieces per day. If kids eat too much candy, the sugar will make them feel full, and the glucose level can affect satiety. More than anything, kids need to eat nutritious foods,” he said.

He’ll also be giving candy to trick-or-treaters. “We will be handing out fun-sized chocolate bars – the kind with wafers,” he said.

Halloween candy will keep for many months. To preserve the freshness, store it unopened in a cool dark place, such as a pantry or basement. Just because your kids got a lot of candy doesn’t mean they have to eat it.

“And remember, it is OK to throw away old candy. Don’t feel compelled to eat it – it’s mostly empty calories, after all,” Dr. Aramouni said.

Originally published Oct. 30, 2013

The post How Long Does Halloween Candy Last? appeared first on Best Food Facts.

We put together a list of eight things to know about pumpkins so that the next time pumpkins pop up into your conversations (or view), you can share some fun #pumpkinknowledge.

1. Pumpkins are originally from Central America and Mexico.
   When you walk around a Mexican market the pumpkins don’t resemble the “traditional” ones. Most pumpkins are some variation of bulbous, beige, round, green-stripped, bumpy, yellow and have crooked necks. The classic pumpkins widely used as jack-o-lanterns are the Connecticut Field Pumpkin because of where this specific type was discovered, aka in Connecticut.
2. The Pumpkin Capital is in Illinois.
   Today pumpkins grow in six continents in various different shapes, colors and forms. Unfortunately, you can’t grow pumpkins in Antarctica. In the U.S., Illinois grows more than 90 percent of all pumpkins and Morton, Ill., is the self-proclaimed Pumpkin Capital of the World. More than 5 million acres of pumpkins were harvested in the U.S. in 2014.
3. Pumpkins have a spooky past.
   Carving pumpkins originally started in Ireland, as part a Celtic tradition on All Hallow’s Eve. People would carve turnips and rutabagas to help ward-off evil spirits like Stingy Jack. Irish immigrants in America discovered pumpkins were a much better substitute and that’s why we still carve pumpkins for JACK-o-Lanterns for Halloween today.
4. Pumpkins take the lead in two holidays.
   Pumpkins may or may not have been part of the Thanksgiving meal between the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Pumpkins were widely used by Native Americans and Native Americans would flatten strips of pumpkins, then dry and make mats out of them. They also used pumpkin seeds as food and medicine. By the late 1700s pumpkin pie recipes were commonly used by the Pilgrims.
5. They’re good for you.
   Food and Nutrition Specialist Julie Garden-Robinson explains just how nutritious pumpkins are. “Pumpkins are packed with nutrients, especially beta-carotene and fiber. Our bodies use beta-carotene to produce vitamin A. In fact, half a cup of pumpkin provides 200 percent of the current recommendation for vitamin A, along with lutein and zeaxanthin, which are pigments that promote eye health. Pumpkins are rich in potassium, which helps our muscles contract and nerves fire. While pumpkin is low in calories. One-half cup of mashed pumpkin (without salt) has 24 calories, 0 grams (g) fat, 1 g protein, 6 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber and 1 milligram sodium.”
6. Even pumpkin seeds prove very nutritious.
   Two tablespoons of unshelled and roasted pumpkin seeds are only 125 calories and contains 15 grams of carbohydrates, five grams of protein, five percent of your daily iron needs. The same amount of shelled and roasted seeds are only 163 calories and are more nutrient dense with four grams of carbohydrates, eight grams of protein and eight percent of your daily iron needs. Pumpkin seeds are also a great source to add additional magnesium, copper, selenium and zinc to your diet.
7. Not only can you use and eat most of a pumpkin, but you can also eat the pumpkin flower.
   The pumpkin flowers are great at treating the common cold (vitamin C), boosting male infertility (vitamin B9), ensuring eye health (vitamin A), and bone formation (phosphorus).
8. You can eat – and drink – pumpkin many ways.
   You can make pumpkin soup or hummus, turn pumpkin puree into some type of pasta sauce, a yummy chili or even make lasagna! Some people sweeten pumpkin with honey and toss it in their yogurt, others use pumpkin substitute as part of the fat in baked goods (think something like brownies). Pumpkin spice latte is a favorite, but you can make other drinks like a pumpkin cocktail or beer. Roasting the pumpkins seeds in salt and pepper, chili powder or cinnamon is a slightly healthier option as well! But some of the top recipes center around a muffin, cake, or a roll filled or glazed with some sort of cream cheese. Pancakes and scones are always a yummy addition to the pumpkin recipe list when trying to incorporate pumpkin into every meal of the day.

Now you are fully versed in #pumpkinknowledge and can proudly show off with friends when carving your Jack-O-Lanterns or when baking a pumpkin pie. Check out our Pinterest board for pumpkin-themed decorations and recipes.

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