Lexi O.

Mars and Hershey Candy Debate

The Mars and Hershey candy companies are in a bit of dilemma with the First Lady Michelle Obama trying to change the companies’ labels and introducing the "My Food Plate," a invention to show kids a balanced diet. Hershey and Mars candy companies have a choice to keep the candies as is, to change the candies or how they're labeled, or to completely discontinue the candies. I as a 10-year-old kid, strongly think and support that the Mars and Hershey candy companies should keep the candies as is. This is important to kids because they love the candies that Mars and Hershey produce. There are many reasons to support my line of thinking. For instance, whether or not you eat candy every day, it may please you to know that many of the yummy candies can do some beneficial things for you. In addition, chocolate can also help your body, especially your heart. Finally, Mars and Hershey have a timeline of not only the companies doing well, but candy also leaves distinguished marks on the timeline of America and the world.

One reason Mars and Hershey candy companies should keep the candies as they are is that candy can have good qualities that can help you in everyday life. For instance, chewing gum can improve your overall mood. Also, studies show that people who eat candies live longer than those who don’t. The so-called “bad sugar” can actually improve your willpower to solve a problem. In addition, the favorite carnival treat, cotton candy, can widen your blood vessels allowing more blood to flow to your heart, brain, eyes, etc. Amazing right?! Did you know studies at the University of Cincinnati found that peppermint candy helped people be more alert and focused? Some educators are already encouraging students to eat a piece of peppermint during a test. Candy can make you feel good too. Michael Allured, publisher of Manufacturing Confectioner says, “People develop a relationship with candy, it’s comforting and relatively inexpensive.” This means that candy can help people feel better and take their minds off of other things. Besides all of the amazing health benefits candy has, it’s delicious too!

Another reason the candy companies should keep the candies as they are is that, America's favorite treat, chocolate, can help your body in many different ways. An example of this is how dark chocolate can help improve your flexibility and protect you from U.V. rays. This means bring it along on beach day! Dark chocolate can also help prevent white blood cells from sticking to your own blood vessels. Would it really be okay to let Mars and Hershey stop making this miracle chocolate!? Cocoa, which is used in almost all chocolate, can lower your blood pressure. Cocoa’s molecules can also help to limit the risk of heart disease. The amazing chocolate can also decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies at The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute concluded that people who ate chocolate had a lower risk of heart disease. They said “Eating chocolate two to three times a week can decrease risk of heart disease, the more chocolate you eat the more protection you have.” Go chocolate! Last but not least, light chocolates(milk, white)can also lower your blood pressure by a nice amount. Feeling sad? No problem, chocolate contains both serotonin and P.E.A. They are all meant to enhance moods. As you can see there are no reasons why chocolate should be discontinued. It’s awesome!        

A third reason that they should keep the candies as they are is their history. These companies do amazing things and keep doing them, but to stop selling candies means no more income. For example, every year Hershey donates a lot of money to charity. Hershey says that “We bring goodness to the world through great-tasting snacks. One smile, one moment and one person at a time.” They are truly living up to that statement, by donating to causes and making everyone smile with their wonderful treats. What kind of person would not want that to continue. Another reason is, the candy Milky Way introduced by Mars in 1924 was the first candy ever to have a filing; it must go on. Finally the Recess candy just topped M&M’s for best selling candy, M&Ms were top candy for a long time! That’s a big feat for a little candy. These two companies have made revolutions in candy history, why let it stop now!?

A common argument can be that candies are empty calories. An empty calorie is a food that only contributes to weight gain. But candy can be very useful and it contributes a lot, whether being a snack on a car ride or a little dessert, candy can increase your mood and willpower. Many people may argue that dark chocolate has a lot of added sugar, but with all the benefits it gives to your health like lowering the risk of heart disease, and increasing your flexibility and protection from U.V. rays. Dark chocolate not only tastes good but is good too. Those benefits should be enough to convince you that dark chocolates benefits outweigh the sugar contents by a high amount. While some say that candy should be discontinued, what would that mean for the candy companies? For example, Hershey donates money to charity each year. They even have their own school called Milton Hershey School. Hershey brings smiles to the world, why stop it? Americans love candy and it can be good for them too.

Mars and Hershey should keep the candies the way they are, because candy and sugar can have an immense good side, chocolate can help your body, and all the amazing things that these two companies have greatly accomplished. Many people argue that candy is bad for you- it has too much sugar, and that it makes kids feel sick. But candy is more, candy is used in so many different ways that have become important to daily life. Candy is used as a special snack, on s'mores, and on holidays. Without candy, what would happen to Easter? No chocolate bunny, what about Halloween? No treats to collect and snack on. Valentine’s Day, and Christmas. What about those holidays? Changing candy would be like changing Halloween, Easter, Christmas, etc. Candy can bring health benefits, improve mood, and make history. As a 10-year-old kid, I know how good candy is and how much people want it. Too much candy can be bad for you, but who eats it every second of every day? Besides, too much of anything can be bad for you. Kids will never stop eating treats as hard as parents try they won't succeed. Kids need fat for their nerves among other things as they grow up, you won't find them all by being a plain vegetarian. There’s no such thing as junk food; food is food. Too much candy can be bad but, too much of anything can be bad for you too. So even if you think your kid is eating too much candy, try to remember that candy can be helpful to you. Chocolate can help your heart, and don’t forget that candy has made a big mark on the timeline of America.