Trick-or-Treating

I’m sorry to hear you had a reaction last year. But don’t let that stop you from having fun. Instead, think about what you have learned about your reaction, and that information to help keep yourself safe this year. For example, did you ask an adult to read the ingredient label before you ate the treat? Did the label have a “May Contain” warning on it that may have been overlooked? Talk to your parents and come up with a game plan for how Halloween will be handled this year. Some good rules to follow include:

• Never eat a food unless a trusted adult has read the ingredient label and says it is okay for you to eat.
• An adult should always read the entire packaging for “May Contain” or similar warnings.
• An adult should call the manufacturer of the candy if there are any questions about cross-contact.
• Remember that not all kids, including those who do not have food allergies, are able to eat all of the candy that they’ve collected.

So, what can you do if you collect Halloween candy that you cannot eat? Lots of kids who manage food allergies come up with a plan for what to do in this situation. The most popular idea is trading candy that contains food allergens for treats that do not.

Have fun and be careful!