It’s that season and Halloween is right around the corner! While kids day-dream about wearing the Halloween costume they picked out and the delicious treats waiting for them, parents are worrying about the safety of the candy that strangers are giving to their children. One of the first reported cases of candy tampering happened in 1959, when a California dentist gave children candy with laxatives [1]. In 1974 a man gave out cyanide-laced Pixy sticks [1]. In 2017, a child needed surgery from ingesting a Reese’s peanut butter cup with a metal object in it [1].
Luckily for worried parents, the FDA regulates the safety of Halloween candy in 21CFR117.5 [2]. There are standards for food coloring, additives, and packaging that helps protect consumers from potential dangers. The FDA also has the power to recall candy for reasons like potential contamination, foodborne illnesses, undeclared allergens, foreign objects, and more [3].
Without the FDA monitoring candy products on the market, tainted candy could be accidentally produced and purchased by consumers. Or candy that should be safe for people with nut allergies to eat, could have undeclared nuts. Halloween without the FDA’s oversight would certainly be very horrific.
Something else that is very scary is not being in FDA compliance for your food or Halloween candy product! EMMA International provides full-circle solutions for all aspects of food safety, including Halloween candy. Give us a call at 248-987-4497 or email us at info@emmainternational.com to learn more about how EMMA International can take the stress out of quality and regulatory compliance!
[1] Miller (2019) Trick or truth? The real story behind Halloween candy tampering, Retrieved on 25 October 2024 from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/halloween-candy-tampering-urban-legend-truth-1.5341734
[2] FDA (2024) 21CFR117.5, Retrieved on 25 October 2024 from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=117.5
[3] FDA (2024) Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts, Retrieved on 25 October 2024 from: https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts
