BrandAware

This year, don't hand out the same old candy from companies like Nestle who has been criticized for exploiting farmers, busting unions, and promoting unhealthy baby pabulum to women in developing countries. (More about Nestle here.) Instead, give out organic goods or buy from companies with better track records.

Some examples:

• Larabar 
• Bare Fruit Snacks
  
• Stretch Island Fruit Snacks
  
• Clif Kid Bars
  

Check out more Halloween treats at GreenHalloween.com

I'm not sure how I've managed to miss GoodGuide up until now, but I'm glad to have found their website and to be sharing it on BrandAware. GoodGuide is a brand rating website that is focused on food. The website actually offers one of the most comprehensive sets of data that I've seen in a long time. Every product has a health rating, an environment rating and a society rating, as well as an overall "GoodGuide rating".


An example of how a person might use this guide:
By browsing for macaroni and cheese products, I can see that Annie's Homegrown Macaroni and Cheese is rated better than Kraft's Organic Macaroni and Cheese and certainly better than their regular Kraft Dinner. Then I can actually click on the products to find out why.


I'm going to do a more in depth how-to on Good Guide shortly, but for now, check it out and look up your favourite products.


GoodGuide