The authors of the piece cite evidence that excessive sugar consumption leads to adverse health consequences and can be addictive. They point out that alcohol has similar effects on the body and brain and is regulated by the government, so sugar should be similarly regulated through taxes and age limits.

Interesting that this paper and its associated hubub has come out on the heels of another well-publicized study that found no link between childhood obesity and availability of junk food (including soda and candy) in schools.

I agree that excessive sugar in the diet poses a public health problem that needs addressing, but I don’t think taxes and age limits are the solution. Would kids start getting carded when buying candy bars and cookies?

I don’t blame candy or cookies or other sweets – people know that such things have loads of sugar and can regulate (or choose not to regulate) their consumption of such goods accordingly.

I think the bigger problem is the addition of sugar (and salt and other chemically things) to processed foods where people don’t expect it to be. You’d be surprised at how much extra sugar is hidden away in things like ketchup, canned soup, or peanut butter.

It’ll be interesting to see how this line of controversy shakes out. Awareness of added salt and salt consumption is just starting to hit its stride, with some cities trying to legislate against it and many food makers pledging to cut sodium levels in their products. Do y’all think we’ll see a similar thing happen with sugar?

With the way candy product cycles are, post-Easter and post-Christmas are also prime times for candy sales! Just a couple of weeks ago, I managed to score a bunch of half-priced Christmas candies that were shelved right next to their full-priced Valentine’s Day equivalents.

This is an example of the halo effect, in which one positive trait bleeds over and influences perceptions of other traits. Remember, Fair Trade chocolate is better for its workers but not any healthier for your body!

When I got to college, however, my cheese horizons were expanded thanks to some food-loving roommates. After graduation, I moved to Rochester and basically ate my way through Wegman’s incredible cheese selection.

Though fine chocolates are often sold with nice cheeses, it had never occurred to me to eat the two together. As in, in the same bite together.

This waxing rhapsodic post about pairing chocolate and cheese on the Kitchn, however, sent me rushing to top a chip of 64% Valrhona from my candy stash with a chunk of creme fraiche cheese from the fridge (how’s that for a foodie snobby sentence?).

The result was funky and sweet. While it was an interesting experiment, I don’t think the sum was greater than the parts. I may try it again the next time I impulse buy a chunk of fancy cheese, but for now, I’ll be consuming separately.

Have any of y’all ever tried the chocolate + cheese combination? Am I just picking the wrong chocolate or cheese for it?

I definitely need to go on a Liddabit Sweets shopping spree next time I make it to New York City. Also I sort of want to quit grad school and open a candy store.

You can check out their Kickstarter page here. Any pledge of $25 or more comes with candy as thank you gifts!