Kids beware of Halloween food dangers

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Halloween is something a lot of kids look forward to, but trick or treating can be dangerous if parents aren't careful.

For many kids, Halloween is all about the costumes and the candy. Experts say parents should be cautious about how much their kids consume, especially if they have food allergies.

Dr. Jonathan Schwab, of Northampton area pediatrics, told 22News parents need to read all the labels. “There are certain manufacturers that make candy, even though it doesn't have peanuts in it, the manufacturers make other products with peanuts. So they have to be careful about that.”

That's not the only cause for concern, parents also need to make sure candy isn't tampered with, so it's important to make sure they're always wrapped in commercial packaging. However, most parents we talked to said they're just worried their kids will eat too much candy.

Bridget Bourdreau of Williamsberg said, “I'm not going to let them have the entire basket. It's going to have to be doled out and share with the family and maybe bring some to school. Try to keep a cap on it, but not ruin the fun of it.”

“I think we'll do a lot of science experiments with our candy and we'll eat some candy and I think if I have any rules maybe it will be before we eat candy,” according to Li Ming Dolan of Easthampton. “We have to make sure we have something healthy in our bellies.”

Dr. Schwab agreed, he said everything in moderation is a good plan. Also, bite size candy bars can be a choking hazard to small children. So parents may need to watch their kids while they are eating their candy.