It’s mid-October and Halloween is right around the corner. Naturally candy comes to mind. Lots of it. 

But for the last century, candy has been associated with cavities, obesity, diabetes — the list goes on. But a new book that details the cultural history of candy, says those associations may not be fair. 

Samira Kawash, author of Candy: A Century of Panic and Pleasure, says the business of candy is closely tied to the everything else we eat. 

“We make this very sharp distinction between candy that is harmful and dangerous and food that is good and wholesome and nurturing, and yet when you just look at the chemistry and molecules, the candy just isn’t that different.”

Samira Kawash, author of Candy: A Century of Panic and Pleasure, joins Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal.