Go Through the Goody Bag: Halloween Candy Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for pumpkin everything, fall fashions and asking your kids what they want to be for Halloween. Of course, Halloween means trick-or-treating and trick-or-treating means candy, and lots of it. Some kids and families will travel to desirable neighborhoods to collect the best loot - chocolate, hard candy, gummies and much more. But before the kids dive into the treats, parents need to be sure their scrumptious selection is safe to eat. Here are a few Halloween food safety tips from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

• Before they go out in a group or with a trusted adult, give your kids a snack or light meal, so they won’t be tempted to eat the goodies they get while trick-or-treating. Tell your kids to wait for you to check the treats at home before they eat anything.
• For children with food allergies, check the label to make sure the ingredients don’t include the allergen. Don’t let your kids eat anything that’s home baked.
• Urge your kids not to take or eat anything that’s not commercially wrapped. Check these commercially wrapped candies to make sure there’s been no tampering, including tears in the wrappers, discoloration or a strange appearance, or tiny pinholes. If it looks suspicious, throw it out.
• Check the bags of your youngest trick-or-treaters for any choking hazards, including hard candies, peanuts, small toys or gum.