Sacramento, CA. October 27, 2014 – What child doesn't look forward to dressing in a costume and collecting candy treats on Halloween? If you want your little ghouls and goblins to have a happy and healthy Halloween -- keep these tips from the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department in mind:
Tips for parents before Trick-or-Treating
- Give your children a healthy snack or light meal before going out so they will not be tempted to eat their treats before you can inspect them.
- Tell children to wait until they get home so you can check their treats before they eat them.
Trick-or-Treat food safety tips
- Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Discard homemade treats unless you know and trust where they came from.
- Inspect factory-wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance of discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
- Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, nuts, hard candies, or small toys. Parents of children with food allergies need to take extra caution and read the labels carefully.
Consider giving alternative treats
- Mini boxes of raisins
- Packages of hot chocolate mix
- Microwaveable popcorn
- Non-food items like stickers, book markers, coloring books, and crayons
Expecting party guests?
- If food is catered, make sure you are working with a reputable caterer and have properly working chafing dishes to keep hot food hot. Keep hot foods hot at a safe temperature of 135° F or above.
- Keep cold foods cold. Make sure there is plenty of room in your refrigerator to store cold foods before, during, and after the party. The refrigerator should hold foods at 41° F or cooler to prevent bacterial growth.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables should be washed well before serving.
- If juice or cider is served to children at Halloween parties, make sure it is pasteurized or otherwise treated to destroy harmful bacteria. The label will state if the juice or cider has been treated.
