Halloween is supposed to be scary, but it isn’t supposed to be deadly. Kids who have food allergies are at risk of encountering an allergen in Halloween candy or in the treats at school parties. There is a trend this year to have a “No Candy Halloween” specifically to keep kids with food allergies safe.
Food allergies are to be taken seriously. Kids that encounter even a tiny amount of a food that they are allergic to can have an allergic reaction that could consist of anything from hives, to digestion issues, to anaphylaxis. This makes Halloween candy very scary, and not in the “fun” way that is usually associated with Halloween.
The trend this year is to do a “No Candy Halloween”. In Wausau, Wisconsin, parent Amanda Maltbey has created the “Allergy Friendly Trick-Or-Treating” program. Her two year old son, Brennan, has life threatening food allergies.
The program encourages people to offer a non-food item as a treat for the trick-or-treaters who have food allergies. She says this doesn’t mean that people cannot hand out any candy at all, just that there should be a safe alternative for kids who need one.
The Charlotte Observer has an article that suggests some great non-candy alternatives. Halloween pencils are a great choice. Every kid needs at least one pencil to do homework with. Stickers are another option. Temporary tattoos could potentially be an option as well, (assuming a child doesn’t have a skin allergy, or contact allergy, with the ingredients in the tattoo).
There has been some suggestion that handing out small containers of play-dough is a safe option. However, most people don’t realize that play-dough contains wheat gluten. Kids who have celiac disease, or a gluten allergy or intolerance, might end up with an allergic reaction after playing with a toy that contains this allergen. There is potential that a small child could decide to taste the play-dough, or might not wash all traces of it off his or her hands before eating dinner.
The American Dental Association ADA often suggests that people hand out toothbrushes or dental floss to the trick-or-treaters. This is a safe option for kids who have food allergies. This year, the ADA is offering printable coupons that will give kids a free Plants vs. Zombies game. This is a really fun option for a “No Candy Halloween”!
Image by Zylenia on Flickr