Americans Playing Tricks With Treats This Halloween

New National Confectioners Association Poll Reveals Americans' Desire to Stash
Candy

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Trick-or-treaters beware; adults are
stashing sweets for themselves this year. According to the National
Confectioners Association's (NCA) 2009 Halloween Survey, four in ten adults
admit that they purposely keep treats behind, instead of giving all the loot
away to revelers. In fact, nearly one third (30 percent) of adults admit that
they will pocket at least a handful or more of goodies from the treat bowl to
savor for themselves.

"This Halloween, adults are looking to share the sweetness of the holiday by
giving out, and in many cases saving for themselves, their personal favorite
treats," said NCA Vice President of Communications Susan Whiteside. "And, with
the holiday falling on a Saturday, we anticipate seeing even more Americans
celebrating in heightened style this year, as compared to years past, by
trick-or-treating, attending festive parties and enjoying delicious seasonal
candy sweets."

Treats and Traditions
Nearly one-in-five adults say that a Halloween celebration without candy would
be the spookiest thing of all this October! Savoring the classics, chocolate
treats and traditional sweets will dominate trick-or-treaters' selections. In
fact, the majority of Americans (52 percent) report that they will be handing
out chocolate on October 31. Joining chocolate in the top five treats to be
found in trick-or-treaters' loot this year, adults say they plan to also give:
-- Hard candy and lollipops (30 percent)
-- Chewy or gummi candy (19 percent)
-- Chewing or bubble gum (16 percent)

-- Caramel treats (14 percent)

Proving revelers are never too old to dress-up for Halloween, the national
survey also demonstrates the popularity of getting into festive attire.
Forty-three (43) percent of celebrants cite costumes as one of the most
indispensable parts of the holiday; alongside candy as a critical must-have on
Halloween night. Added Whiteside, "a night of fun and fantasy for kids and
kids at heart, candy and costumes are the cornerstones of time-honored
Halloween traditions."

That's why 38 percent of respondents admitted that rain on Halloween night
would be too scary to bear, as it would undoubtedly dampen Halloween spirits
and trick-or-treating traditions!

Tips for Treats
With loot to boot, little ghosts and goblins will be looking to taste test
their rewards after a night of trick-or-treating. To help families enjoy a
happy, healthy Halloween, NCA provides parents with tips to help their kids
enjoy candy in moderation and ideas to help the sweets last past October 31.

NCA Tips for a Happy, Healthy Halloween
-- Eat before treat. Serve a healthy and nutritious dinner before your
children head out to collect candy. Your kids will be happier and
full,
which will help reduce the temptation to eat candy at each
trick-or-treat stop.
-- Sort and save. Allow your kids to enjoy some of their Halloween bounty
on trick-or-treat night. Then work with them to portion out two or
three treats into separate small bags to be enjoyed beyond October 31.

-- Make it or break it. Most candies are now available in snack size
portions. For the ones that aren't, break them into sections and
store
those separately to make your own fun sizes!

NCA Tricks for Storing the Treats
-- Chocolate. Dark chocolate can be kept for one to two years if wrapped
in
foil and stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Milk and white
chocolate
have a more limited storage time--no more than eight to 10 months.
-- Hard candy (lollipops, hard mints, butterscotches). Hard candies can
last up to a year when stored at room temperature in a cool, dry
location.
-- Soft candies (gum drops, jellied candies). If the packaging has been
opened, soft candies should be covered away from heat and light at
room
temperature. Stored in this manner, the candy should last six to nine
months. If the packaging has not been opened, soft sweets will last
approximately 12 months.

-- Candy corn. If opened, candy corn should be stored under the same
conditions as soft candies and will last approximately three to six
months. Unopened, packages will last about nine months.

For more information on candy, Halloween history and celebration ideas, see
NCA's "Tricks and Treats for a Ghouliciously Fun Halloween" consumer guide at
www.candyusa.com. For daily tips on tricks and treats, go to NCA's Candy
Dish blog at www.candydishblog.com.

About the National Confectioners Association (NCA): Founded in 1884 in Chicago
by representatives of 69 confectionery manufacturing firms, the National
Confectioners Association is one of the oldest, most respected trade
associations in the world. Today NCA has more than 600 members and is the
major association representing the entire confectionery industry, offering
education and leadership in manufacturing, technical research, public
relations, retailing practices, government relations and statistical analyses.
NCA fosters industry growth by advancing and promoting the interests of the
confectionery industry, its customers and its consumers.

SOURCE National Confectioners Association

Charlotte Fouch of Fleishman-Hillard, +1-202-828-5064,
charlotte.fouch@fleishman.com, for National Confectioners Association; or
Susan Whiteside of National Confectioners Association, +1-202-534-1440,
susan.whiteside@candyusa.com