Halloween Safety for Food Allergic Children

The frightful fun of Halloween & trick or treating make this holiday among most children's favorite celebrations. It is also considered one of the most dangerous nights of the year for children, especially if they suffer from food allergies &/or sensitivities. This frightening statistic is enough to spook the most calm & collective parent(s). But, there are many things that you can do to help reduce the dangers associated with this holiday.

Before Halloween night:

• Check all food products that are packaged in different sizes & for special times of the year. For example, holiday candies & food, may not always be processed or packaged at the same place or with the same ingredients and/or equipment as their other counterparts.

• Remember, bulk or binned food or candies, e.g. those stored in buckets or bags , may become cross contaminated in handling or scoops used with other "unsafe" candies . Pre packed options are safer.

• Confirm sources of materials in your child's costume, make-up, jewelry, etc. Face paint, costumes, decorations & costume jewelry are all potential sources of allergens, including latex & nickel. Also, note that holiday costume fabric often is dyed with cheaper grade dyes, since costumes are only worn a few times, & therefore may be more likely to irritate sensitive skin. If possible, allow your children to briefly wear the garment to reduce the possibility of confusing an allergic to the garment with one from a food residue.

• Provide safe treats for trusted friends & neighbors to distribute to your allergic child. Place items in a tightly sealed plastic zippered bag. Clearly mark the bag with your child's name, type of costume & any other additional information. This will reduce the risk of your child's treats becoming mixed up or lost. The zippered bag will also act as a barrier, & help prevent cross-contamination with other allergenic items.

• Consider alternative items for treats. Stickers, books, crayons, small toys & stencils are just a few suggestions. www.orientaltradingcompany.com offers a multitude of small toys and holiday themed merchandise at a reasonable price. Snack size bags of safe pretzels, potato chips, maple sugar candy or raisins also may be suitable substitutes. As always, remember to confirm any item that you purchase is free of hidden allergens.

• Contact your child's school or daycare center & request to be involved in party planning or as a helper when the party takes place. Many well- meaning parents can inadvertently serve your child the wrong food, especially if you are not present.

• Review emergency procedures with your child's school, or day care facility. Halloween food-related crafts & parties are likely times when reactions can occur.

• Check your child's medicine bag prior to going trick or treating. Verify product expiration dates are current and make certain the bag is well stocked. Even if your child

Halloween night:

During Halloween children are often presented with a bucket of candies to select their treats. This could cause potential cross contamination on the surface of the packaging from other children 's hands or inadvertent remains of a consumed item to which your child is allergic or intolerant to.

Accompany your child on his or her trick or treating adventure. This will allow you to constantly monitor the treats your child receives, and enable you to immediately respond to any allergic reaction.

Double check all treats prior to allowing your child to consume them. If uncertain about an item, have a stock pile of safe treats that your child enjoys on hand, & exchange the goodies for a safe item. For older children, take them to the store beforehand, and allow them to choose a bag or two of safe candy that you can use to "trade" for the unsafe candy brought home after trick-or-treating. For younger children, you can engage their imagination by having them leave their unsafe candy for the "Pumpkin Fairy" or "The Great Pumpkin," who will come during the night and replace their candy with safe treats or toys.

Don't forget to take along all of your child's medications & hand wipes. Verify beforehand that they are up to date.

Alternatives to trick or treating:

Host a Halloween party. Only serve items that are safe for your child.

Allow your child to dress up in her costume and take him/her out to dinner at a safe restaurant. Don't forget to bring along a few safe treats. Many restaurants hand out candy for Halloween.

Locate an age-appropriate haunted house or pumpkin patch & visit it on Halloween night.

Check with local malls to see if they are offering trick or treating.

Create your own haunted house and at-home Halloween celebration.