Halloween Doesn't Have to be Scary for those with Food Allergies

Trick-or-treating can be especially spooky for those with food allergies -- many of those bite-sized candy bars and other treats can not label ingredients or other allergy information. This may leave parents guessing if those chocolate bars contain peanuts or not. Since even a small amount of particular food can result in life-threatening anaphylaxis in children with food allergies, Halloween is a time to be well-prepared to treat food allergies.

If your child has an Epi-Pen, it's a good idea for the parent to carry it with them while accompanying the kids on their trick-or-treat adventures. Also instruct your child to check with you before sampling any treat they receive. If your child as a peanut or treenut allergy, use extreme caution before eating any chocolate or other candy -- nuts are a common ingredient in candy bars and homemade treats. Lastly, consider talking with other neighbors on your street whose homes your little one might visit on Halloween night - and ask them to hand-out safer treats, which may include non-food items such as stickers, pencils, small toys or coins.

Learn how to recognize and treat a food allergy reaction, in case your child accidentally gets more of a treat than they bargained for.