For little ones, the only thing better than Christmas is Halloween. Dressing up as your favourite superhero and coming home from a successful night of trick-or-treating with your Halloween bin full, it doesn’t get much better than that! It can be stressful for those with little ones who have food allergies or food intolerances. How do you keep your little ones safe? Is there a way to ensure allergy-safe Halloween candy? Below, we’ll dive deep into the subject and explain how allergy and intolerance testing can help you prepare for the ultimate enjoyable season.
Why learn about allergy-safe Halloween candy?
If you or your little one have allergies, then it makes sense that you’d want to know about allergy-safe choices. But, many interested readers might not have restrictions themselves. Learning about allergy-safe options is still a good idea. Even if you or your loved ones are free from allergies, someone you know might not be. Plus, it’s always fun to learn a new thing.
Plus, you can ensure that those young ones in your neighbourhood who are sensitive or allergic to foods can still come to your home on Halloween. Since allergies are becoming increasingly common, there’s no better time to learn about an allergy-safe Halloween!
What is allergy-safe Halloween candy?
Many assume that those allergic to peanuts, dairy, or eggs can’t have any “good” candy. However, this is not the case anymore. Since the world is now jumping “on the allergy bandwagon,” many sweet brands will advertise as being free from many if not all, the main allergens.
Nut-free brands include KitKat, Peppersmith, Nestle Munchies, and Creative Nature Gnawables. These are excellent choices for those who need nut-free certification. For those who are allergic to dairy, you can try Barratt Jelly Bellies, Haribo Happy Cola Bottles, or Kingsway Candy Necklaces.
Gluten-free choices include Kingsway Fizzy Peaches, Mint Imperials, and Barratt Mini Foam Bananas. If you have someone who needs to avoid soy, you can trust Sour Patch and Fun Dip. For those who need to avoid the top 9 major allergens, free2b, YumEarth, and Enjoy Life all offer the verification you need.
As you can see, these are well-known household names. The only thing to note is that full-size and Halloween-size choices may not always be processed or manufactured the same. So, always double-check the label. They should clearly list their certification.
The other thing to remember is that this kind of candy selection is only helpful if you know what problems to avoid. If you are doing this for yourself, take the time to order allergy and intolerance testing to know the main issues for you and everyone else in your household.
Top tips for an allergy-safe Halloween event
Now that you know what treats to have on hand for trick-or-treaters, let’s take a moment to learn how to make the most out of your planning. This will help make for a safe Halloween. We’ve got some of the essential tips below to help you out.
Organize your candy carefully
You’ve gone through all the trouble of carefully choosing candies and chocolates that you can safely give to those with allergies. So, make sure you give the same care and attention to organizing them. Nut allergies should go in one bowl, dairy allergies in another, gluten intolerance in another, and so on. Label them so that young ones know which bowl to go to. You’ll also want to ensure that nothing ends up in the wrong bowl if clumsy fingers are wandering around trying to decide what to pick.
Show off a blue pumpkin
Of course, you can have classic treats that aren’t allergen-free. As well you can also show that you are an allergy-free stop by showing off a blue pumpkin in your window or on your doorstep. That way, those with sensitivities will feel safe stopping in to see what you have.
Get the word out about your allergy-friendly home
The last thing to do is get the word out that you are a safe place for those with allergies! Announce this on social media and consider putting something in a newsletter. Of course, word-of-mouth always works well, too. Start with people you know and ask them to share it with others.
Trick-or-treaters will always feel safer going to homes that have planned for allergies to all of the major allergens. Luckily, it’s not as hard as it used to be to find and enjoy allergy-safe Halloween candy for those young and old. Enjoy the tasty journey and remember we’re here to help you with our allergy and intolerance testing!
