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The Show Must Go On Don't cancel Halloween on account of your child's food allergies - ensure a safe celebration with alternative treats, smart decisions and informed neighbors 
For the 3 million children in the U.S. who have food allergies, Halloween night can range anywhere from a disappointment to a disaster. "All Halloween candy is a potential problem if not in the original package with complete labeling," says Dr. Allan Bock at the Boulder Valley Asthma and Allergy Clinic in Boulder, Colo. So, one of the first things the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology suggests is to prepare for Halloween night ahead of time by letting your neighbors know of your child's allergy. Better yet, give them safe snacks they can hand to your child when he comes knocking. Chances are you won't be able to catch every problem candy while trick-or-treating in the dark, so be sure not to let your child eat or open anything until he's back home. Once home, trade candies your child can't eat for safe ones. "When my daughter was little she used to trade with her brother all the peanut-containing candy for peanut-free candy and then the eating began," Bock says. "Also, by then she was home where we could supervise what she ate." It's important to be wary about the labels. Anne Muñoz-Furlong, founder of the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network warns parents that the "may contain" statements on labels warning of potential allergens aren't always accurate. "We look forward to the day when kids can go trick-or-treating and trust the information on the ingredient label," she says. For now, don't ignore these labels, but if you aren't sure about the ingredients of a candy then don't let your child eat it. |
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