We've all heard it: "Be careful with the Halloween candy your kids get."

This is usually followed by an anecdote of poisoned candy, razor blades hidden in chocolate bars or ecstasy disguised as sweets. Is it all true?

According to Indiana pediatricians Aaron E. Carroll and Rachel C. Vreeman, the poisoned candy story is a myth. Despite the widespread fear of tampered candy, they couldn't identify one single instance in half-a-century in which trick-or-treaters were poisoned.

The doctors, who debunk several myths in their book Don't Swallow Your Gum, also cite research by University of Delaware sociologist, Dr. Joel Best. He scanned major newspapers between 1958 and 1993 for stories about Halloween candy tampering. He came up with about 100 stories that suggested it. When he followed up with police and hospitals, he found out that absolutely none of the incidents could be attributed to random Halloween violence.

Most of them were pranks, directed to specific targets and initiated by children themselves, in which almost nobody was hurt. This included, for instance, charcoal, rocks and ant traps inside treat baggies. Upon further research, Best discovered that even the alleged contamination was, in many other instances, a hoax.

The researchers found two documented cases of child deaths linked to Halloween treats. But even these disprove the myth. In both cases, immediate family members are to be blamed and the cases aren't what they first appeared to be.

One of them is the 1970 case of a five-year-old Detroit boy who died of a heroine overdose. The drug was initially traced to his Halloween candy. Later, the investigation revealed that it had come from his uncle's poorly hidden stash. When family members realized they could be criminally charged for the boy's death, they tainted the candy with the intention to mislead police.

I'll still be careful about where I trick-or-treat with my kids. I still plan to inspect their candy before they eat it. But I'ld do so because it never hurts to be cautious.


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Gosh I remember my mom going through my Halloween candy with a fine tooth comb. She'd throw all kinds of things out. I learned to eat what I knew she'd throw out before I got home!

I have heard this before, I read an article that suggested that almost all poisonings reported on Halloween are a result of family members doing it to their own kids...sickos all around.

LOL Lori I used to do the same thing and I bet my twins do it as well LOL.