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DIETITIAN Q&A
Allergen-Friendly
Trick-or-Treating
Registered dietitian and HealthMarket Vice President Elisa Sloss offers advice on how to make Halloween fun and safe for kids with food allergies.
What does allergen-friendly mean?
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Elisa Sloss, RD, LD
Vice President,
HealthMarket
Usually it means that the food doesn’t contain any of the top nine major food allergens identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy and sesame. Foods labeled “allergen-friendly” also are usually prepared in a facility that prevents cross-contamination from common allergens. The description “allergen-friendly” is often used rather than “allergen-free” because the FDA has determined more than 160 foods may cause allergic reactions, so it’s hard to prepare foods without any potential allergens.
The Teal Pumpkin Project helps make Halloween safer for everyone. Place a teal pumpkin on your doorstep to signal that you have small, nonfood gifts available for kids with food allergies.
A:
Q:
In the U.S., about 8% of children, or 1 in 13, have a food allergy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though some symptoms may be mild, such as itchy skin or tingling in the mouth, some children have life-threatening allergies that may cause difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis. Because food allergies are so common, there’s a good chance many of your trick-or-treaters may have them. If you offer allergen-friendly or nonfood treats, everyone can participate in the fun.
A:
Q:
How many children have food allergies?
Cow’s milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat and egg all appear in popular sweets, especially in chocolate candies. Sesame oil is less common, but still found in some treats such as candy corn. Many candies also contain artificial colors and dyes, which may be allergens for some children.
A:
Q:
What allergens are common
in Halloween candy?
Carefully read the ingredient labels, even if you don’t think the candy contains common allergens (sometimes, fun-size candies have different ingredients than the full-size versions). The FDA requires manufacturers to clearly identify the source of all major allergen foods. For example, flour is made from ground wheat, so on the ingredient list for a baked good, you might see “flour (wheat).” The one current exception is sesame—it was declared a major allergen in 2021, but the requirement to label it as such doesn’t take effect until 2023.
A:
Q:
What should I look for when buying candy?
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Q:
How can I keep my child with food
allergies safe on Halloween?
Before leaving the house, make sure your child knows not to eat any treats until you’re back home and can check ingredients. Keep safe candies in your pocket to give them while trick-or-treating or to “trade” for unsafe candies they receive by accident.
A:
Q:
How should I hand out
allergen-friendly treats?
Keep allergen-friendly treats in a separate bowl from candies that may contain allergens. When kids and parents come to your door, let them know you have allergen-friendly candies as an option. You can also signal to trick-or-treaters that you have nonfood items, like small toys or stickers, by placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep.
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Usually it means that the food doesn’t contain any of the top nine major food allergens identified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy and sesame. Foods labeled “allergen-friendly” also are usually prepared in a facility that prevents cross-contamination from common allergens. The description “allergen-friendly” is often used rather than “allergen-free” because the FDA has determined more than 160 foods may cause allergic reactions, so it’s hard to prepare foods without any potential allergens.
“allergen-friendly” also are usually prepared in a facility that prevents cross-contamination from common allergens. The description “allergen-friendly” is often used rather than “allergen-free” because the FDA has determined more than 160 foods may cause allergic reactions, so it’s hard to prepare foods without any potential allergens.
allergen-friendly mean?
In the U.S., about 8% of children, or 1 in 13, have a food allergy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Though some symptoms may be mild, such as itchy skin or tingling in the mouth, some children have life-threatening allergies that may cause difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis. Because food allergies are so common, there’s a good chance many of your trick-or-treaters may have them. If you offer allergen-friendly or nonfood treats, everyone can participate in the fun.
have life-threatening allergies that may cause difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis. Because food allergies are so common, there’s a good chance many of your trick-or-treaters may have them. If you offer allergen-friendly or nonfood treats, everyone can participate in the fun.
How many children have food allergies?
artificial colors and dyes, which may be allergens for some children.
when buying candy?
Carefully read the ingredient labels, even if you don’t think the candy contains common allergens (sometimes, fun-size candies have different ingredients than the full-size versions). The FDA requires manufacturers to clearly identify the source of all major allergen foods. For example, flour is made from ground wheat, so on the ingredient list for a baked good, you might see “flour (wheat).” The one current exception is sesame—it was declared a major allergen in 2021, but the requirement to label it as such doesn’t take effect until 2023.
source of all major allergen foods. For example, flour is made from ground wheat, so on the ingredient list for a baked good, you might see “flour (wheat).” The one current exception is sesame—it was declared a major allergen in 2021, but the requirement to label it as such doesn’t take effect until 2023.
Keep allergen-friendly treats in a separate bowl from candies that may contain allergens. When kids and parents come to your door, let them know you have allergen-friendly candies as an option. You can also signal to trick-or-treaters that you have nonfood items, like small toys or stickers, by placing a teal pumpkin on your doorstep.
Before leaving the house, make sure your child knows not to eat any treats until you’re back home and can check ingredients. Keep safe candies in your pocket to give them while trick-or-treating or to “trade” for unsafe candies they receive by accident.