FDA: Make Sure Kids' Candy Is Safe

For kids, one of the best parts of Halloween is trick-or-treating and collecting as much candy as they can possibly carry—and later eat. Before kids chow down on sweets (and before the almost-inevitable stomachache), parents should follow these guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration to make sure the goodies are safe to eat:

• Don't let kids eat candy until a parent has inspected it at home.
• Feed trick-or-treaters a snack before they leave, so they're not tempted to sneak a treat that hasn't been inspected.
• Tell children not to accept, much less eat, a treat that's not commercially wrapped.
• Parents of very young children should confiscate treats that could pose a choking hazard, e.g. gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.
• Parents should inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering—such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes or torn wrappers—and throw out anything suspicious looking.

People who plan to throw parties should make sure they're serving juice that's been pasteurized or processed in a similar way. The best way to find out if something's been pasteurized is to check the label.

Before bobbing for apples, party organizers should thoroughly rinse the fruit under cool running water and use a produce brush to remove surface dirt. This reduces the amount of bacteria on the fruit.

Find more tips and tricks, check out the Patch Guide to Halloween.