5 Tips to Have a Safe & Fun Halloween

Tips to Have a Safe Halloween

With Halloween just around the corner, many families with food allergies can be anxious about Halloween parties and trick-or-treating. At Premier Allergy and Asthma, we want all patients to be safe but also enjoy the holiday with friends and family. This year, the CDC is recommending to avoid trick-or-treating as it can be a high risk activity for the spread of Covid-19. However, we recognize that some families may still want to participate and wanted to share some tips for having an food-allergy safe holiday:

1. Consider an alternative activity to trick-or-treating such as a scavenger hunt. Make a list of items that your child can find along the trick-or-treating route and have an allergy-safe treat waiting for them upon completion.

2. Teach children to avoid or politely refuse homemade treats such as cookies or baked goods, that do not contain labels. Baked goods can contain milk, wheat, egg, peanuts and tree nuts which are some of the top allergenic foods.

3. Do not try to guess if a candy contains an allergen that your child may be allergic to. Parents should inspect their child's Halloween candy. Our laws require food to be labeled with common allergens, even if the candies are miniature in size.

4. Look for houses with a teal pumpkin on the doorstep or porch. To learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, go to https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/ohioans-encouraged-to-participate-in-teal-pumpkin-project/

5. While out trick-or-treating, make sure to pack your Epipen and a flashlight so you are prepared for a potential allergic reaction. Epinephrine is the first line of medication that should be used if your child is having an allergic reaction to a food.

Be safe and Happy Halloween.

Summit Shah, MD

Premier Allergy and Asthma