I have a horrible feeling they are probably talking about the type of vitamin I would not support, but frankly,  at certain levels of malnutrition, even a synthetic, artificially colored vitamin can make a difference.

Here is a post from the Health Action Center:

CONGRESSMAN ISTOOK REQUESTS FUNDS FOR VITAMIN RELIEF USA
To Gain Congressional Approval, Thousands of Emails Must Be Received

Murrieta, CA (October 27, 2004) Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK) formally requested that The Healthy Foundation's program Vitamin Relief USAT receive $4 million from the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education budget. $2 million will provide daily vitamins to 60,000 at-risk children. $2 million will fund research on the impact of daily multi-vitamin intake on the quality of life of at-risk seniors.

For this funding to gain approval, thousands of emails to Congress must be received. To quickly and easily send your letter of support for this funding to your congressional representative go to:

http://www.healthactioncenter.com/action/index.asp?step=2&item=21988

Vitamin Relief USAT provides daily multi-vitamins to 20,000 at risk children, teens, adults and seniors at over 500 locations in 42 states. Parents and teachers of participating children report improvements in children's grades, school attendance, behavior, health and self-esteem. Seniors report decreases in pain and the need for medication as well as increases in energy, confidence, appetite and the ability to care for themselves.

The Healthy FoundationT received an earmarked appropriation from Congress in 2002 to research the impact of daily vitamins on at-risk children and their academic performance. The study is underway at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey under the direction of Dr. Adam Perlman. Preliminary results of the study are expected in Spring 2005.

Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) sponsored the appropriation in 2002. Senator Harkin is expected to sponsor the 2005 funding for The Healthy FoundationT in the Senate.

To learn more about The Healthy FoundationT and Vitamin Relief USAT, contact The Healthy FoundationT at (877) 935-5348 or visit www.vitaminrelief.org.

My children officially named me the Hallowe'en curmudgeon.  We did not have this event in England when I was a child, and I found it offensive to think of my kids going to other people's houses and saying, in effect, 'Give me some candy, or I will do something unpleasant to you'.  Needless to say this is separate from my already negative feelings about overloads of candy.

Add to this the obesity epidemic among children, the increase in juvenile diabetes - and I would like to propose an alternative.

Get your children a Hallowe'en box from UNICEF, and suggest they collect instead for children in genuine need.  Remember,  "Hallowe'en" means "Holy Evening"!

Get your school system involved.  This is a threefer! Less candy, no threats, and some needy children helped - not necessarily listed in order of important.