Halloween Doesn't Have to Be Scary for Kids With Food Allergies

SEATTLE, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- While children are already anticipating
Halloween "trick or treating," some parents are dreading the observed holiday
that focuses on youngsters going door-to-door to receive free candy.

Parents of children with a life-threatening food allergy must be extra careful
when their child is the recipient of food outside the home. With a little
planning, children with a food allergy can stay safe without having to miss
out on the Halloween fun.

Sally Porter of Sammamish, whose son Charlie has a deadly peanut allergy,
approaches Halloween as a learning opportunity. She is fortunate to have many
neighbors who ask about the safety of treats before purchasing or giving one
to her son. Last year, for the first time, Charlie, then 5 years old, asked on
his own if candy was safe before taking it--an important milestone toward
becoming independent.

Yet Porter says the holiday also serves as a reminder that she and her family
can never be complacent about Charlie's safety and insists on strict
enforcement of two rules: 1) Charlie's costume must include gloves to avoid
skin contact with candy, and 2) a parent must examine all food before
consumption to remove anything unsafe or in doubt.

By enforcing these rules, Porter says she feels confident they are taking
necessary precautions and hopes they are giving her son the foundation he
needs to learn how to protect himself.

"Charlie will have to make decisions for the rest of his life--decisions that
can have dire consequences, so if our consistency can make it almost second
nature for him to make good decisions, we are happy," added Porter.

According to How To Manage Your Child's Life-Threatening Food Allergies by
Linda Marienhoff Coss, the author recommends the following:

1. Stay home: Allow your child to distribute "safe" candy at your home.
2. Distribute safe candy to your neighbors: Secretly go around to your
neighbors and explain your situation and only trick or treat at those
houses.
3. Go trick or treating and sort out the safe candy from the unsafe before
your child eats anything.

4. Throw your own Halloween party instead of going door to door.

In addition to directing their child to homes they have confirmed in advance
will have a treat without the allergen, parents can maintain control by
hosting a party in their home where they not only have allergen-free food, but
also can emphasize costumes and activities to minimize the focus on candy.

Distracting children from eating the candy is a goal shared by many
parents--not only those whose children suffer from food allergy. Another way
to achieve this is to offer children the option to trade their candy for a
toy, small amounts of money, or a special activity with Mom or Dad.

Last but not least, parents of food allergy children can often find assistance
to navigate holidays and other potentially harmful situations through local
support and advocacy groups for food allergy sufferers.

One such group, Food Allergy Initiative-Northwest
(http://www.faiusa.org/?page=northwest), for which Porter serves as the
regional representative, offers resources for Washington families and
educators seeking information about food allergy. The organization is also
actively working to increase awareness and expand education about the dangers
of food allergy--in classrooms, hospitals and with civic leaders.

Every parent worries about their child's safety, especially on Halloween.
Whether implementing these ideas or some of their own, parents can create new
traditions that will ensure their food-allergic children will enjoy Halloween
as much as other kids while remaining safe.

SOURCE Food Allergy Initiative-Northwest

Mary Schuneman, +1-206-282-1990, for Food Allergy Initiative-Northwest