As most parents know, allowing the kids to go trick or treating at Halloween is not quite as simple as in generations past. Owing to the need to be mindful of the dangers inherent in the practice, many parents not only tag along with the kids but also make it a point to inspect all the candy and other goodies collected before anything is consumed. Here are a few tips to help make sure the candy is safe and not likely to cause any problems for your kids.
Segregate all the fruit from the candy. Fruit is easier to tamper with than commercially sealed candy. Rather than taking the risk, discard of the fresh fruit.
Take out any homemade goodies. Those are among the easiest to be tampered with. Popcorn balls, brownies wrapped in cellophane and home baked cookies may look appealing, but you have no way of knowing what ingredients were used.
Check the wrapping on each piece of Halloween candy. Any pieces that are sealed with no signs of perforations or markings on the wrapping are highly likely to be fine. Be somewhat wary of candies that come in wrappers that can easily be removed and replaced; always check the surface of those candies for any signs of marks, smudges, or other signs that some tampering may have taken place.
Smell everything. The basic rule of thumb is that if a chocolate bar doesn’t quite have the aroma of chocolate, then something may be wrong. Don’t take the chance and toss any pieces with an unusual aroma in the trash.
Discard anything that is crushed or damaged. While it may be out of shape due to an innocent accident, take no chances. The damage could have been intentional, making it easier to mask the tampering.