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A TERRIFYING TALL TALE HALLOWEEN CANDY MYTHS THAT WON’T DIE
Several prominent op-eds warned against tainted candy in the 1970s, and fear increased after a 1982 incident where multiple people died in Chicago from cyanide-laced Tylenol. If a maniac could poison consumers like that, people asked, why wouldn’t they target Halloween candy? Meanwhile, the stories have kept coming: a child who died of a heroin overdose, Pixy Stix filled with cyanide, and childhood sweets substituted with cannabis candy. Some stories had a kernel of truth but did not match the original news reports. The heroin overdose originated with a family member’s stash; they blamed candy as a coverup. One father tragically murdered his son with poisoned candy and blamed it on trick-or-treating. And while it’s true that some edible THC products look like regular candy, they’re also far more expensive, and users are unlikely to give them away for free. Sociologist Joel Best has studied claims of contaminated Halloween candy since 1985 and has never once confirmed an intentional poisoning or injury by a non-family member. He speculates that people circulate the legends each year almost as a tradition. Further, examining potentially dangerous candy makes parents feel in control compared to many other dangers their children face. So, inspect your child’s trick-or-treat haul if you must. After all, it's tradition. But rest assured that the risk is only as authentic as the fake cobwebs on your front porch.
Halloween has many rituals: hanging up spooky decorations, choosing costumes, and going trick- or-treating. And one nearly universal routine is parents checking their children’s candy stash and throwing out anything deemed suspicious. People consider it an unfortunate but necessary part of life, and the danger seems vast. There are supposedly razor blades in apples, candy laced with drugs, and sweet treats made with poison. But the fear is almost entirely unfounded.
Stories of poisoned Halloween candy trace back to at least the 1960s, and the New Jersey legislature passed a law against tampering with apples in 1968. It seemed prudent
since 13 people reported finding razor blades in apples that year. However, at least 75% of those cases were hoaxes, and there was insufficient information about the others to determine their veracity.
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This publication is intended to educate the general public about personal injury and elder abuse. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different.
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