Making Halloween Safe and Fun for Kids with Allergies

Halloween offers scares and delights for children, but for parents of kids with food allergies, the holiday also brings an extra level of concern.

Children who are allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk or wheat — common ingredients in packaged candies — can’t go trick-or-treating and casually eat any treats they collect. For children with severe allergies, a single bite can trigger anaphylaxis — a life-threatening reaction.

Rushani Saltzman, MD, an attending physician in the Allergy Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), has a few suggestions for keeping Halloween both safe and fun for kids with food allergies.

“Any holiday or celebration that involves food requires care and vigilance for families of kids with food allergies,” says Dr. Saltzman. “That means paying close attention to ingredients. It’s also important to keep holidays fun and to help your child feel included in the celebration.”