Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Terese — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:00:51 GMT

No unwrapped candy for my kids either.

It's ironic when I think of wrapped candy, straight from the manufacturer, being absolutely safe, though. Jeffrey Dahmer worked in a candy (chocolates) factory. Never heard of him doing anything funny with the product, it just raises the creepiness factor...

Terese

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Barb — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:56:29 GMT

I don't let my daughter eat unwrapped candy, either. I even take out things like lollipops and tootsie rolls because they can be opened and re-rolled back on. But so far I've been able to hide it from my daughter -- I ransack her stash right after coming in while my husband takes her to his parents' house for a few houses of trick-or-treating, so she never knows what she's missing.

I sometimes think I'm a little on the paranoid side, but at least I can admit it!

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Brett Singer — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:29:11 GMT

No poisoning, but there have been needles and other nasty things. Also from Snopes:

www.snopes.com/.../needles.asp

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

BBBGMOM — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:59:36 GMT

Knitty & Samantha - I don't really think strangers want to poison my kids. I just don't want to eat stuff prepared by strangers' grubby hands amid strangers' counter-lolling cats and sneezing babies. That's all.

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Knitty — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:46:22 GMT

You sing it, Samantha!

I wouldn't have a problem with letting my kids eat a homemade treat because I reject the culture of fear, preferring logic. There has NEVER been a case of a child poisoned by a stranger on Halloween. Why do people still cling to the idea that their neighbors are trying to poison their kids? It doesn't happen. The dangers that children face is found within their own house.

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Samantha — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:08:56 GMT

There has NEVER been a case of a child poisoned or harmed by halloween treats, except by relatives.

www.snopes.com/.../halloween.asp

Fight the fear!

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Amy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:03:04 GMT

I made cake balls for the kids I knew, and if their parents were present and gave the ok, I handed them out. If no parents were present, or if I didn't know the kids, or both, I gave them pre-wrapped treats.

We live in a close-knit, friendly neighborhood, so it made a lot of sense to do it this way. I knew most of the kids who came to the door.

And I had one neighbor who was mad that he didn't get to try them - as his kids are grown - so he got all the leftovers. He shovels our walks for us, so it was totally fair.

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

Jenny — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:48:23 GMT

I live in a tiny town where everyone knows everyone and I think it's ok, BUT only because we know everyone. I'd feel differently if we lived in the city.

re: Why Do People Still Hand Out Unwrapped Halloween Treats?

bbbgmom — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:22:57 GMT

I do not think you are uptight at all about not letting the kiddos consume homemade fare. My one exception to this rule is the wonderful neighbor lady who creates special treat bags for each young kid on the block. So every kid under the age of twelve or so gets a gift bag with spider rings, a handful of Hershey mix and a homemade popcorn ball. Because I've known her for years (her kids are all grown and gone) and I've eaten many a treat prepared by her I let them enjoy the popcorn balls. Otherwise, though, unwrapped or oddly wrapped "treats" get tossed immediately - just not worth the risk. I do feel bad for old-fashioned, well-meaning people whose efforts are wasted in our less trusting world, but I'm not willing to take risks on my children.