Kids love to go trick-or-treating but eating the candy they have collected can be scary and even dangerous for children with allergies, especially kids with severe peanut allergies. Montreal pediatrician Paul Roumeliotis provided a few safety tips for handling allergic children on Halloween in this Canada.com article. His advice includes inspecting the kids candy before they can eat it and making sure they are trick-or-treating on a full stomach so they don't snack on any of the candy before they get home.
Parents of food-allergic children must be diligent in checking their kids' loot before giving them access to it. Instruct children not to eat anything until they get home. Then read labels carefully, looking for allergens. Be aware that the ingredient Mandalona is a nut substitute derived from peanut meal.
Make sure your kids have a good meal before they go out trick-or-treating, the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network recommends, so they're not hungry.
Talk with neighbours in advance about having safe treats for your kids; consider supplying them. Some companies, including Nestle and Mars, for instance, produce peanut-free candy bars. Consider such non-food treats for trick-or-treaters as colouring books or pens and pencils.
If your child is old enough to go out without an adult, have him go with at least two buddies who know about his food allergies. Make sure he carries his medicine. Epinephrine, used to treat severe allergic reactions, is most effective when used as soon as possible after a severe allergic reaction. It is available by prescription, most commonly as the Epi-Pen auto-injector.
The candy you suspect is allergen free may not always be safe. NBC reports that child last year was rushed to the hospital after eating a gummy worm.
Denise Bunning of Chicago has two children with severe food allergies. Her son Bryan was rushed to the hospital one year after eating a single gummy worm, reported WMAQ-TV in Chicago.
"The bulk container had previously contained a chocolate nut, so just the residue on the gummy worm was enough to cause my child to have an anaphylactic reaction," Bunning said.
Experts say eight foods are the most common food-allergy culprits: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.
Parents of food-allergic children must read every candy label in their child's Halloween bag to ensure their child's safety.
You can read more tips and suggestions on About.com's Halloween Allergies page.
