About Allergies: Allergies on Halloween Night

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Allergies Allergies Symptoms / Diagnosis Treatment Coping From Daniel More, MD, your Guide to Allergies This Sunday night, our little ones will be out trick-or-treating. Many of these young children suffer from various allergies/asthma that could flare up as a result of food allergies, exposure to cold air, or from latex containing costumes. If your child has a severe food allergy, especially to nuts, don't allow them to eat any treats until you've examined them. Consider banning any chocolate and home-made treats which may contain nuts and other hidden ingredients. If you know food-allergic kids on your street, consider handing out non-food items such as stickers, pencils and quarters. Peanut Contamination of Raisinets On October 22, 2010, Nestle USA issued a warning that some of their Nestle Raisinets may contain peanuts, and therefore a recall was issued for certain packages of the chocolate-covered raisins. The concern is that people with peanut allergy could experience an allergic reaction if the Raisinets are eaten. This recall is of particular importance because it affects the "fun size" bags, which are likely to be distributed to children on Halloween night. These particular bags of Raisinets were sold to Target, Shop Rite and Don Quixote stores, and have the production code #02015748 and UPC #2800010255. According to Nestle USA, people with peanut allergy should not eat packages of the Raisinets with the above codes, and purchasers should contact Nestle directly at 1-800-478-5670 for a refund. Parents of peanut-allergic children should be on the lookou t for "fun size" packets of Raisinets that their child may receive on Halloween night, and promptly dispose of them if they are labeled with the above codes. Halloween and Food Allergies Trick-or-treating on Halloween night can be especially spooky for those with food allergies. Many of the bite-sized candy bars and other snack-size treats don't label ingredients or other allergy information. This can leave parents guessing if those chocolate bars contain peanuts or other allergens. Since symptoms of food allergies can be dangerous, and even life threatening, Halloween is a time to be well-prepared to treat food allergies. If your child has an Epi-Pen, it's a good idea for the parent to carry it with them while accompanying the kids on their trick-or-treat adventures. Instruct your child to check with you before sampling any treat they receive. If your child as a peanut or treenut allergy, use extreme caution before eating any chocolate or other candy -- nuts are a common ingredient in candy bars and homemade treats. Finally, consider talking with other neighbors on your street - and ask them to handout safe treats, which may include non-food items such as stickers, pencils, small toys or coins. Share Your Tips on a Food Allergy-Safe Halloween Halloween night offers an opportunity for children to have a fun time trick-or-treating or attending Halloween parties. Many of these young children suffer from various food allergies that could present a serious problem if the wrong type of food is eaten accidentally. Since Halloween treats, especially chocolate and baked goods, may contain common food allergens such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, wheat, and soy, children with food allergies need to take extra precautions on Halloween night. Share your ideas, and learn from others, about how you plan to keep your child with food allergies safe this Halloween. Allergies Ads Halloween Peanut Allergies Food Allergy Food Allergies Allergies Relief Featured Articles Nose and Eye Allergies Skin Allergies Asthma and Lung Allergies Common Allergy Issues in Children Food Allergies Allergies in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding   More from About.com Is it a Cold or the Flu? Knowing whether you have a cold or the flu can help you treat your symptoms more effectively. More > Concerned About Your Drinking? This short quiz can help you identify whether or not you have a drinking problem. Take the quiz now > This newsletter is written by: Daniel More, MD Allergies Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Allergies newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Must Reads What are Allergies? Symptoms of Allergies Diagnosis of Allergies Treatment of Allergies Preventing Allergies Advertisement