Candy Safety for Halloween

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Over the past few years, rumors on social media about handing out tampered and unsafe candy to children have sparked fear in parents and law enforcement. That’s why trick or treating comes with the responsibility of being vigilant. Not only are you careful of where you are and your surroundings, but what you’re eating and consuming. There have been discussions for decades of razor blades, poison, or sewing needles being reported to law enforcement. One major threat that poses to children is marijuana-infused candy sneaking its way into their bags. Social media threatens trick-or-treaters because of dangerous trends or myths that people talk about online, such as “rainbow fentanyl.” If you see something online, it doesn’t mean that it’s true, but it’s key to take precautions. That is why it’s important to know the facts about tampered candy and to know what to look out for.

When going trick or treating, it’s important to sort out suspicious-looking candy. It’s key to look for weird appearances or possible discolorations. Tears in the wrapper or unwrapped candy are suspicious for possible tampered candy. Homemade goods or candy that are being handed out shouldn’t be eaten if you don’t know who the person is. If you question any candy that looks weird or suspicious, make sure to throw it out. It’s not worth taking the risk of eating something if you aren’t sure what could have been added to it.

A 10th-grade student at Hills West, Gaby Motta, said she hasn’t gone trick or treating in over three years. When asked if she knew about candy possibly laced with fentanyl or marijuana, she said that she was not aware of it. She emphasized that she would look for “odd wrappers and possible needles sticking out of the candy.” She said that whenever she would receive unwrapped or homemade treats, she would throw them out as soon as she got home. Motta also explained that her mom would sort out and throw away candy that she suspected could have been a problem.

Last year, there were concerns over “rainbow fentanyl” being given out to trick-or-treaters. Fentanyl is a highly addictive drug that affects millions of people. “Rainbow fentanyl” are pills that look just like candy because they’re rainbow in color, which may make kids want to eat them. It’s impossible to know what is laced with fentanyl by looking at it, so experts warn to throw away any opened or suspicious-looking candies. Although scares were being passed around on social media, zero kids in the United States have received them.

A problem last year that was taking place was that cannabis-infused candy was being handed out. There is more available marijuana-infused candy on the market. Therefore, more kids are accidentally eating it. Last year on Long Island, a 5-year-old boy was eating starburst gummies. Then, the child didn’t feel well, so he was rushed to the hospital. According to NBC New York, marijuana-related incidents among pediatrics are up 600%. Names on packaging such as “THC” and “Medicated” are common phrases to indicate marijuana-infused candy. Therefore, parents need to look for common phrases that indicate marijuana-infused candy. On the other hand, opened or suspicious-looking candy may also be laced without indicating it. Marijuana is very dangerous for children, so parents need to sort through their children’s candy thoroughly.

It’s key to have a clear conversation with children to ensure they’re not eating candy until a parent has thoroughly sorted through it. This ensures that any candy that looks suspicious, opened, or marijuana-infused has been removed from the bag. By doing this, parents can help keep their children safe during Halloween while they eat their candy.

If you think your child may be sick, please follow the county’s poison control

https://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/FRES/Communications-Bureau/Emergency-Telephone-Numbers