Halloween can be fun holiday for children who Trick-or-Treat; however, the risk is real for the six to eight percent of children who have food allergies. Each year an estimated 30,000 people go to US emergency rooms each year as a result of allergic reactions to food.
Allergy & Asthma Network advises adults who pass out candy on Halloween to be very cautious about the types of snacks they give. "Many times, candy that is given on Halloween contains peanuts and tree nuts, or it has been manufactured on equipment that has been used to make products that have peanuts and tree nuts," said Tonya Winders, President & CEO. "Under these circumstances, it is best to take a cautious approach and avoid those foods.”
The most common food allergies are milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. These are often referred to as "the big eight." They account for over 90% of the food allergies in the USA. For people who have allergy, these foods can cause serious health problems such as dizziness, stomach cramps, swelling in the throat or tongue or even anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, which could lead to death. The only way a child can be absolutely sure that he or she does not suffer a reaction is to completely avoid foods that trigger his or her allergy.
Parents should inspect their children's candy on Halloween, especially if one of their children has allergy problems and other children do not. Usually, parents are more careful about watching what their kids eat around Halloween time, but sometimes kids who have allergy will get into their siblings' candy.
Parents and adults can take several safety measures to ensure that their child has a safe and allergic reaction-free Halloween:
•If a child starts to have a severe allergic reaction to one of his or her Halloween treats, make sure that he or she has their epinephrine auto-injector readily available and call 9-1-1.
•Adults who pass out snacks may want to avoid purchasing items that contain some of the most common allergens such as: eggs, milk, peanuts and tree nuts.
•Inspect all candy and treats that Trick-or-Treaters bring home and check each label carefully; make sure that they contain no foods that can trigger an allergic reaction.
•If two or more children trick-or-treat together and one is allergic to certain foods and the other is not, sort their candy accordingly.
•Don't leave candy lying around the house where children can easily find it or get into it.
•Teach children to politely refuse offers of cookies and other homemade treats.
•Adults can pass out alternatives to snacks and candy such as: temporary tattoos, stickers, fancy erasers, crayons, small novelty toys, miniature magnifying glasses, plastic jewelry/decoder rings, necklaces and fake money.
By following safety tips and being aware and prepared in the event of an anaphylactic reaction, Halloween can be a fun-filled day for all.
