Every Halloween, the same questions surface: Is eating Halloween candy safe? Should I be checking Halloween candy for signs of tampering? If so, how? The prevalence of these questions is in large part the result of historical and continuing fears about Halloween candy safety. The FDA, for example, recommends only accepting commercially wrapped candies and then searching childrens’ candy for discoloration, pinholes, and tears. To ensure this is possible with all candy, the FDA tells parents no to allow their children to eat candy until coming back home, and to feed children beforehand so they are less tempted. Otherwise, children might eat candy before parents get a chance to check it.
Caution around Halloween candy is decades old. A New York Times article from 1970 details the risks of Halloween candy, using some hypothetical examples of candy tampering but also referencing allegedly real anecdotes of apples with sewing needles or razor blades hidden inside, along with other incidences of tampering. This article caused widespread concern for the safety of children trick-or-treating. Additionally, in 1974 the first and, to this day, only case of a child dying from Halloween candy occurred: eight-year-old Timothy O’Bryan passed away after ingesting poisoned candy. A subsequent investigation and criminal trial revealed the child’s own father had poisoned him in a case of life insurance fraud. The father also handed poison candy out to at least four others, including strangers, in an attempt to cover up his tracks. No children are known to have been killed from Halloween candy given by a stranger, and this remains the only known attempt by a family member.
Recent news stories have furthered fears of Halloween candy tampering, including a 2022 case in Eugene, Oregon of three separate children being given candy items hiding a small razor blade. At least one parent found the blade by checking candy before allowing the child to begin eating. Even if the risk is non-lethal, checking Halloween candy certainly could prevent a child from eating altered candies, as in this case. Also in 2022, on Oct. 20, authorities at Los Angeles International Airport seized roughly 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills within candy boxes. Although the boxes were disguised most likely for the sole purpose of hiding the pills for smuggling, many worried this was a sign children could be given fentanyl on Halloween. After this incident, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told parents to examine candy before letting children begin eating. No Halloween candy incidents involving fentanyl were ultimately reported in 2022.
Sometimes, these sorts of stories about Halloween candy tampering result in media frenzies and ultimately paranoia, especially when details of these stories are misrepresented. This has been happening recently but is by no means the fault of the internet: Halloween candy paranoia has been spreading since far before the internet was made public. And the simple fact is, there have been cases of dangerous Halloween candy, including recently. Yes, these cases are exceedingly rare. No children have ever died after ingesting candy given by a complete stranger. But that hasn’t stopped one person from trying and succeeding to kill his son via candy. Double-checking Halloween candy — although children are most likely safe nevertheless — may have some merit, depending on your personal risk tolerance. Plus, if you’re the one doing the checking, you can always turn it into an excuse to loot some candy from the young ones.
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