Halloween: The Tainted Candy Myth

[UrsulasShadow]

I've always known the things that Disney Dad Canada is pointing out. I'm a big believer in researching the facts, not the media hype. I don't buy every scaremongering e-mail I receive, and usually call out the sender for being so irresponsible for re-sending it without checking the facts. I hate sensationalized media, and try to find the best sources for my information, not the loudest and scariest.

But like others said, in a world in which you can't protect your children from everything, you do what you can. If it helps you sleep at night to check your kids' candy, by all means, do it. Just know that the risk is small, and all your neighbors aren't out to harm your children.

These days, your child is at greater risk of contracting whooping cough (due to some misinformed people's fear of vaccination) than of receiving deliberately tainted candy. Please vaccinate!

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

But like others said, in a world in which you can't protect your children from everything, you do what you can. If it helps you sleep at night to check your kids' candy, by all means, do it. Just know that the risk is small, and all your neighbors aren't out to harm your children.

These days, your child is at greater risk of contracting whooping cough (due to some misinformed people's fear of vaccination) than of receiving deliberately tainted candy. Please vaccinate!

As mentioned earlier, checking your kids candy because of a 1 in a billion chance isn't the real issue, it only takes 5 minutes. The bigger picture is to spend more time and effort worrying about things than can REALLY happen.

As for vaccines, there are just some people, no matter how much evidence to the contrary, that will believe a botox and silicone filled d-list actress over the entire scientific community. That's a million times worse than unnecessarily checking candy.

 

[Gigi22]

Perhaps I am older than most of the people posting on this board. I can remember trick or treating up and down my street (it was a long street) with my little sister and a parent. I think it was really a smoke break for my Dad, who was a fierce multi-tasker. The big worry was that you might get run over by a car. I can also remember going through our Halloween bags of treats looking for the apples, because my Mom made applesauce or apple pie with them, and for the homemade fudge that one of our neighbours gave out. It was the best fudge!
Now, with all the fears concerning tainted treats, DH and I make sure to only distribute candy that is very obviously factory-wrapped, in the hopes that children will actually be able to eat what we distribute.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Well--all I can say is that there a LOT more sick (and dangerous) people wandering around out there than you can probably imagine.

And I say it after almost 40 years working as a State and Federal Probation Officer going into almost every street, neighborhood, park etc in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

 

[Tinkershelly]

Perhaps I am older than most of the people posting on this board. I can remember trick or treating up and down my street (it was a long street) with my little sister and a parent. I think it was really a smoke break for my Dad, who was a fierce multi-tasker. The big worry was that you might get run over by a car. I can also remember going through our Halloween bags of treats looking for the apples, because my Mom made applesauce or apple pie with them, and for the homemade fudge that one of our neighbours gave out. It was the best fudge!
Now, with all the fears concerning tainted treats, DH and I make sure to only distribute candy that is very obviously factory-wrapped, in the hopes that children will actually be able to eat what we distribute.

And in my neighbourhood the adults accompanying the kids got their own special "adult" treat from the neighbours, that's why they carried a large plastic glass instead of a treat bag!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Well--all I can say is that there a LOT more sick (and dangerous) people wandering around out there than you can probably imagine.

And I say it after almost 40 years working as a State and Federal Probation Officer going into almost every street, neighborhood, park etc in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.

But there are no more than there ever have been. And with that sex offender laws, we actually know who many of them are.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

But there are no more than there ever have been. And with that sex offender laws, we actually know who many of them are.

Plus, the vast majority of "sex offenders" are not dangerous to the public. Sure, there are some that are, but the term "sex offender" is so vague that it's meaning is diluted.

 

[wishspirit]

See I have mixed opinions on this. In the grand scheme of things, if it gives you piece of mind to spend 5 mins checking the candy (not that a cursory glance would do much), then go ahead.

What does worry me is that we are bringing up the first real generation (me included in this, as I am the beginning of that generation) who are brought up 'in captivity'. It gives us real problems being able to understand the difference between reasonable and unreasonable risk, as we are not exposed to it in every day life. It can also increase obesity in children, as they don't have the outdoor play spaces available, and because the parents think it is safer for them to be in front of the TV, PC or DS. I do wonder what problems this will cause in future.

Some of my friends were shocked that after the age of around 8, I was allowed to play on a quiet back road away from my parents view. My parents were more liberal than most, most were confined to their back garden, even then often only if their parents could see. I feel this is a shame, and causes children to become terribly reliant on adults and unimaginative play, dictated by adults or computer programs.

I can see both sides of the coin, but I wonder if this captivity will cause greater problems in the future.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Guys:
I wasn't talking just about sex offenders and child molesters--I was speaking in general terms of ALL the sick and dangerous people out there. They are all over the place and in almost every neighborhood.
They are a threat to YOU--not just the children.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Guys:
I wasn't talking just about sex offenders and child molesters--I was speaking in general terms of ALL the sick and dangerous people out there. They are all over the place and in almost every neighborhood.
They are a threat to YOU--not just the children.

THIS is the type of thinking that scares me. What would you have us do, lock ourselves in our houses, bar our doors and shoot on site everyone that steps on our lawn?

People are just as good as they were in "the good old days". The only news back then was at 6 and 11. Fear sells, while "everything's fine" doesn't.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Why would my thinking scare you?? Can't recall shooting anyone on the lawn lately. And if you DON'T "bar your door", I think you're making a big mistake.

I'd like to show you around Baltimore--as I know it

But enough--this thread is about Halloween Candy. And I daresay that if you actually believe what you said in your original posts--why would you even want to check the candy?? What could possibly happen?? How could anyone even THINK about tainting childrens Halloween candy??? It's a myth-an urban legend. Couldn't possibly happen...

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Why would my thinking scare you?? Can't recall shooting anyone on the lawn lately. And if you DON'T "bar your door", I think you're making a big mistake.

I'd like to show you around Baltimore--as I know it

But enough--this thread is about Halloween Candy. And I daresay that if you actually believe what you said in your original posts--why would you even want to check the candy?? What could possibly happen?? How could anyone even THINK about tainting childrens Halloween candy??? It's a myth-an urban legend. Couldn't possibly happen...

Differences of opinions are one thing, but if you're just posting to insult me, then please refrain.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Why would my thinking scare you?? Can't recall shooting anyone on the lawn lately. And if you DON'T "bar your door", I think you're making a big mistake.

I'd like to show you around Baltimore--as I know it

But enough--this thread is about Halloween Candy. And I daresay that if you actually believe what you said in your original posts--why would you even want to check the candy?? What could possibly happen?? How could anyone even THINK about tainting childrens Halloween candy??? It's a myth-an urban legend. Couldn't possibly happen...

Differences of opinions are one thing, but if you're just posting to insult me, then please refrain.

Both of these posts are sarcastic in tone.

Agree to disagree and move on.

This thread is closed.