Halloween is is a fun holiday for children, but it's important for adults to make sure that it's a safe one.
Most local police departments will scan your child’s candy if you bring their trick-or-treat bag to the station after the big night, but if your little ones just can’t wait to bite into their candy, here are a few tips for checking it over to make sure it is safe.
First off, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any of the following candies that have:
- An unusual appearance or discoloration
- Tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers
- Spoiled or unwrapped items
- Homemade items or baked goods should be discarded unless you personally know who gave them.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
Make sure your kids do not eat anything that isn't commercially wrapped.
Also, the FDA recommends the following regarding Halloween candy:
- Snacking: Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Make sure they wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.
- Safe treats: Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
- Food Allergies: If your child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Do not allow the child to eat any home-baked goods he or she may have received.
- Choking hazards: If you have very young children, be sure to remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
Check out the FDA’s recommendations at https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/halloween-food-safety-tips-parents.
