The Worst Halloween Candy in 2022
There are countless options of Halloween candy for people to consume during the holiday season.
So many options that members from our CommRadio Arts & Entertainment department wrote about certain candy options you should avoid this Halloween season.
DOTS
Tiny yellow boxes filled with vibrant little pellets sounds like the most kid-friendly candy ever created, right? Wrong. DOTS should be considered a threat to public health.
Only dentists or people who like having their jaw fused shut with solid sugar could like Dots. There are better tasting alternatives for chewy colorful candies like Skittles or the assorted Swedish Fish that don’t require a sweat to be broken while chewing.
No matter what time of year they’re eaten, DOTS are always a let down. They’re extremely small, they all have the same faint flavor of chemicals and, worst of all, they are somehow always stale.
It’s time for DOTS to be taken off the shelves and an end be put to their masquerade as cute mini gumdrops. - Megan Kelby
ROLOS
These caramel blobs coated in waxy chocolate are a waste of space in halloween candy bowls.
ROLOS are the opposite of what trick-or-treaters, and adults, want on halloween. The candies are disappointing next to larger candies like chocolate bars and lollipops.
When a person desires a small piece of candy, a Hershey Kiss is satisfying. At least Hershey Kisses are drops of pure, chocolatey goodness. In contrast, ROLOS are rocks of flavorless, hard caramel.
Hershey Kisses are excellent, little treats, but they do not contain any caramel. A fairer comparison might be milk chocolate and caramel Dove Promises.
Dove Promises are tasty, but cannot be classified as proper halloween candies!
ROLOS are the same way; the caramel candies are considered acceptable treats at grandpa’s house. However, ROLOS are not an enjoyable candy on halloween when there are so many other, better options.
Simply put, ROLOS are usually awful candies, but especially terrible on October 31st. - McKenna Wall
Candy corn
Candy corn is just about as palatable as dry turkey on Thanksgiving. Sure it completes the holiday aesthetic, but it is far from edible.
This candy is the true definition of “looks can be deceiving,”, with its bright orange and yellow hues catching the eye, accompanied by its intolerable taste, bad enough to trigger a gag reflex.
It’s really a wonder who approved of the final product of the original candy corn. Their goal must have been to make a hallmark Halloween candy for decoration with less emphasis on the taste.
Had they crafted the recipe right, the concept of candy corn could have been great from all sides. It’s so disappointing to see such a pivotal part of Halloween have such a rancid taste.
This poor excuse for candy is a combination of sugar, corn syrup, confectioner sugar and several other chemically-produced ingredients. To make matters worse the smooth, waxy texture is made from a confectioner’s sugar glaze that contains insect secretion.
As a child, the mere presence of candy corn is hyped up in classrooms, setting many children who are about to try it for the first time for disappointment.
Needless to say, it is so unfortunate that such a huge part of Halloween doesn’t live up to its expectations. - Abby Chachoute
Airheads
As a kid, I was always overly excited about trick-or-treating and building up a stash of all my favorite candies for free. I have a huge sweet tooth and enjoy almost any type of candy, but being presented with only Airheads to choose from would send me spiraling into sadness.
Airheads severely lack in the texture and flavor departments. The good flavor options are ruined by the overbearingness of it, and the texture is gritty and thin which does not feel good in my mouth.
I can deal with overwhelming flavor, but the infamous Airhead texture is just something I can not get by. This Halloween, I would stay far away from Airheads and any house handing them out. - Rachel Fisher
Megan Kelby is a third-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email mkk5701@psu.edu.
McKenna Wall is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email mew6140@psu.edu.
Abigail Chachoute is a second-year majoring in journalism. To contact her, email axc6070@psu.edu.
Rachel Fisher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email rlf5481@psu.edu
About the Contributors
Megan Kelby
Fourth-Year / Journalism
Megan Kelby is a fourth-year from Newark, Delaware majoring in journalism and minoring in English and history at Penn State. She is a member of the arts & entertainment department for CommRadio. To contact her, email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Rachel Fisher
2025 /
Rachel Fisher is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. She is the DJ Coordinator of the Arts and Entertainment Department and an involved member, focusing on music and TV news. She is from Ocean, New Jersey, and is interested in singing, food, music, and audio production. Follow her on Instagram @rachelfisherrr_
McKenna Wall
First-Year /
McKenna Wall is a first-year student from Allentown, Pennsylvania majoring broadcast journalism. Wall is a multimedia reporter for CommRadio. She got her start as a camera operator in high school, learning how to use professional handheld camcorders, ENG cameras, and a jib camera. Wall is currently involved in After the Whistle, gaining experience both on-camera and behind-the-scenes filming, editing and completing work on a deadline. If you would like to contact her, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
