Halloween can be tricky with food allergies

Halloween is a good time to remind children of food safety.

As the sweet kickoff to the holiday season, Halloween treats are everywhere and, very often, access is unregulated. Additionally, many fall and winter favorites contain nuts, soy and milk that can cause great distress for those with sensitivities and allergies.

For families with severe food allergies, Halloween can be daunting. However, there are ways to keep the fun going while maintaining safety and distance from dangerous allergens.

Small children may not know the full implications of their allergy, and will therefore require closer supervision while they learn about safe and unsafe foods. Your doctor can provide guidance on how and when to begin teaching your child about their allergy.

Older children who have the knowledge and vocabulary required to make food choices can be presented with alternatives that still allow them to participate in Halloween fun.

• Teal-colored jack-o-lantern buckets are used to indicate allergy-free treats on many front porches (but confirm by asking).

• Consider distributing non-food treats on Halloween such as pencils, fun erasers or other inexpensive toys.

• Host a Halloween party for your child and their friends, giving yourself peace of mind that all the goodies are safe.

• Make a learning activity out of sorting through candy, reading ingredients and determining, together, whether treats are safe to consume. Remember, even foods that do not contain specific allergens may have been produced in facilities where cross-contamination is possible.

• Donate treats to which your child is allergic to fire stations or other establishments.

• Forego trick or treating and host friends for a Halloween movie instead.

• Put the Halloween focus on costumes, not candy!

Encourage your children not to eat any treats while out and about, but rather wait until they’re home to inspect and review what they’ve collected in their bucket or pillowcase. Remind them to politely decline homemade treats since the ingredients can’t be verified.

Every day with a serious food allergy can be fraught, but activities centered around food can be especially anxiety-inducing. Make sure children (or the adults they’re with) have an EpiPen handy if it has been prescribed by their doctor to treat serious allergic reactions.

If your child has been diagnosed with food allergies, your board-certified allergist/immunologist can provide age-appropriate tools to help them (and you) learn more about safely navigating a world centered around food. Just recently, the FDA approved new drugs, Palforzia and Xolair, that can reduce the risk of accidental exposure in patients with some food allergies.

From holidays to restaurants and field trips, it’s important for your child, their friends and your family to remain vigilant about ingredients and food safety.

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