Dr. Chang
For kids Halloween is about two things: costumes and candy.
So after they’ve completed their rounds, collected oohs and ahs from neighbors and friends, and hauled home their sweet loot, it’s your job to sort through the candy and determine what they can eat and what must go.
It seems pretty straight forward, unless of course you have a child with peanut or other food allergies. The thrill of running from house to house in hopes of filling a basket with goodies is often not possible for those who suffer from severe peanut allergies.
In a recent KYW Newsradio interview, pediatric allergist Christopher Chang, MD, director of the Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in the Department of Pediatrics at Jefferson advises when it comes to Halloween treats: “Be conscious of people with peanut allergies.”
Peanuts are the highest risk food for anaphylaxis, or a severe allergic reaction.
Dr. Chang recommends keeping high risk snacks in a separate serving dish to avoid cross contamination.
Jefferson dietitian Emily Rubin, RD says that there are many more options for young children now than in the past.
“You can actually eat Oreo’s and Chips Ahoy, they make little Halloween packs.”
Parents should always check labels to make sure candies don’t have any traces of peanut or other ingredients that may trigger an allergic reaction.
And, every child’s need is different, so be sure to inspect all treats before consumption.
You can read the entire story online here.
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