Trick Or Treat? More Like Unsure What To Eat. How To Deal With Food Allergies On Halloween.
For the past 50 years, and potentially back even further, newspaper and opinion writers consistently warn against the dangers of Halloween Candy, with titles reading “The True Story of the Notorious Trick-or-Treat Murderer,” “Boy, 5, Who Died of Heroin May Have Taken a Capsule,” or “Razor blade found in Toronto girl’s Halloween candy.” While these attempted poisoning and destructive acts are most definitely a grave concern, major news and informational sites fail to disseminate the proper comportment for dealing with another nutritional danger: food allergies on Halloween.
I have experienced the impacts of this largely undiscussed subject first hand. Beginning at six years old, I had to understand that because the world would not accommodate me and my concerns, I must adjust myself to guarantee my own safety. Countless years of dressing up as a princess, a hippie, and a rockstar was simply just a costume, never bringing the opportunity to indulge in Trick or Treating adventures with my friends, as it was unsafe for me to touch and eat random unknown goodies with my nut allergies. I remember my parents would personally buy me my favorite candy (Hershey Kisses), as it was unfathomable and irresponsible to place my life in the hands of a stranger and the candy bowl in front of their home. Halloween transformed into a time for me to quite literally put on a mask, constructing the facade of enjoyment despite feeling isolated and insecure about my uncontrollable faulty immune system.
After experiencing this as I developed and grew up, I began to loathe Halloween, as all it seemed to provide was potential scares and peril. However, my dislike for the holiday is not something I wish to project on my audience or any members of the young generation, especially those with allergies like me. Instead, I want to ensure we can transform the world into a safe space, where those with anaphylaxis and sensitivities may seek comfort instead of concern when indulging in their desired snack. With 1 out of every 13 children having a food allergy, it is important that we begin to adjust.
To begin this conversation and bring about positive change in the Trick or Treating universe, we must first learn about which candies are safe for nut allergy children to eat. According to Candy Store, a site entirely dedicated to sharing information about candies, America’s top ten Halloween candies include Reese’s Cups, Skittles, M&M’s, Starbursts, Hot Tamales, Sour Patch Kids, Hershey Kisses, Snickers, Tootsie Pops, and candy corn. Beginning with the obvious, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are entirely unsafe and untouchable for those with peanut allergies, and should therefore be omitted from this year’s shared bowl; the same goes for peanut M&M’s, but also for the normal chocolate candy, whose label reads “MAY CONTAIN PEANUTS.,” therefore warning its eaters against consuming this sweet. Additionally, a main ingredient in Snickers is peanuts, thereby also implying that it is hazardous for 1 in every 13 children. The nutritional facts on the back of Starbursts, Hot Tamales, Sour Patch Kids, select Hershey products, Tootsie Pops, and select candy corns imply that there are no major risks to these treats.
However, sometimes simply reading labels is not trustworthy enough, especially considering the potential for cross contamination. Instead, it would be more beneficial to raise awareness for the Teal Pumpkin Project, an initiative supported by FARE to attempt to assuage the trick or treating process. If an individual places a teal colored pumpkin outside their door, it symbolizes that either the treats are guaranteed nut-free and/or that the house is sharing non-food objects, such as toys, games, stickers, fun pens, and more.
Implementing this project and further inclusive undertakings will aid a large portion of the population to feel more secure in their festivities on October 31st. We need less scare, and more people who care.
