Could The Contents Of Your Trick-Or-Treat Bag Be Destroying Rainforests?

A lot of sweet treats are still made with palm oil, the production of which is contributing to mass deforestation and endangerment of wildlife species.

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Joanna Fantozzi|Oct. 20, 2016 10:46 am EST

Trick or treat: Contribute to deforestation worldwide or save the lives of orangutans? This Halloween season, zoos and conservation activists are imploring little monsters and their parents to buy palm oil-free candy this Halloween.

Palm oil — the production of which is demolishing rainforest lands the size of 300 football fields every hour — can be found in half of all consumer products, including certain candies, according to The Huffington Post.

Deforestation has caused the deaths of millions of animals including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and Sumatran elephants. Already, fast-food companies like Pizza Hut and McDonald's have pledged to stop using palm oil in their food.

If you're unsure how to take part, the Cincinnati Zoo has created a handy "safe" Halloween candy guide to better inform consumers. Better brands for the environment include Hershey, Mars, and Lindt, which received perfect scores. Nestle got a "good" rating, and Haribo (makers of gummy bears) got "needs improvement."