Halloween is coming and parents of food-allergic children must be extra vigilant to ensure their child is not at risk of a food allergic reaction.
Indeed, for the 3 million children with food allergies, Halloween's trick-or-treats could be very dangerous: sweet candy bars and snacks frequently include the most common food allergens for children: peanuts, tree nuts, milk and egg. Moreover, many miniature candy bars do not list ingredients.

But children with food allergies can enjoy candy-free alternatives to a traditional Halloween. So, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) developed a checklist of safety tips, for creating a harmless Halloween for all food-allergic children. Some are the following:

1. before Halloween, distribute safe snacks to neighbors and request that they be handed out to your child;
2. teach your child to politely refuse offers of home-baked goodies like cookies or cupcakes;
3. remember that small candy bars passed out to trick-or-treaters may have different ingredients than their regular-size counterparts. Even if a certain candy is safe for your child, the 'fun size' version might not be;
4. consider participating in a charity trick-or-treat event to raise money for a good cause, rather than collect candy;
5. instead of trick-or-treating, host a party that focuses on costumes, pumpkin carving, games and other Halloween-themed fun.

Download the full checklist

Source: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology – Halloween Back