Halloween is a time of tricks and treats. But how do you make sure you get more treats than tricks? Thanks to the folks at the American Candy Council, we've been able to put together a helpful guide of what candies to be wary of, and I don't mean Mary Janes, Dots, ribbon candy and all those other odd-ball confections you don't see but once a year come Halloween...
First, there are true dangers to be avoided. The urban legend of the razor blade in the apple is a warning to be heeded. However, today psychos are, frankly, getting lazy. With the absence of razors, they are reports of apples with disposable razors stuck in them. They are a lot easier to spot, and only very dumb kids have had any problems with them.
Another problem that plagues the holiday is counterfeit candy. These are cheap knock-offs which do attempt to fool the recipient. Common imitation candies include N & Ns, Marred Bars, Milky Wheys, or Two Musketeers. Read the packaging carefully.
Of course trick-or-treaters often come across items which the ACC simply calls "bad candy." Each year candy companies attempt to launch new products and many of these are simply ill-conceived. Cream-style candy corn, for instance. We have yet to find anyone who would even try it, never mind enjoy it.
There was an attempt to capitalize on the success of such "happy snacks" as Chuckles, Snickers and Ho-Hos. Those items, Guffaws, Chortles and Smirks, were laughed out of the candy store.
The makers of Gummi Bears and Gummi Worms brought out a new line of candy last year and it failed. Gummi Lice. Simply distasteful on a variety of levels. The folks at the ACC still shake their heads over the gum-on-a-stick incident and the dismal Rhesus Monkey Cups, which claimed to be made with "real Rhesus Monkey bits."
Equally bizarre was Oscar Meyer's attempt to extend its hot dog sales by muscling in on the Halloween season with its introduction of the Hallo-wiener. The black frankfurter (served on an orange bun) was recalled by the government when several ingredients could not be identified. Well, several more than usual concerning hot dogs.
Always be careful around home-made items, which can be troublesome. It's not just cookies and popcorn balls anymore. People are attempting to foist soups, dips and packets of sugar upon children. There is a case of a woman who had made caramel-covered jelly doughnuts. Kids did report her to the police, who arrived on the scene, tried a few and asked for the recipe.
We hope you take heed of this warnings. We do want to promote a safe Halloween and avoid the severity of eggings and T.P.-ing which often accompanies the distribution of these so-called snacks. Halloween should be an innocent time of
joy, delight, and the occasional satanic ritual.
Another problem that plagues the holiday is counterfeit candy. These are cheap knock-offs which do attempt to fool the recipient. Common imitation candies include N & Ns, Marred Bars, Milky Wheys, or Two Musketeers. Read the packaging carefully.
Of course trick-or-treaters often come across items which the ACC simply calls "bad candy." Each year candy companies attempt to launch new products and many of these are simply ill-conceived. Cream-style candy corn, for instance. We have yet to find anyone who would even try it, never mind enjoy it.
There was an attempt to capitalize on the success of such "happy snacks" as Chuckles, Snickers and Ho-Hos. Those items, Guffaws, Chortles and Smirks, were laughed out of the candy store.
The makers of Gummi Bears and Gummi Worms brought out a new line of candy last year and it failed. Gummi Lice. Simply distasteful on a variety of levels. The folks at the ACC still shake their heads over the gum-on-a-stick incident and the dismal Rhesus Monkey Cups, which claimed to be made with "real Rhesus Monkey bits."
Equally bizarre was Oscar Meyer's attempt to extend its hot dog sales by muscling in on the Halloween season with its introduction of the Hallo-wiener. The black frankfurter (served on an orange bun) was recalled by the government when several ingredients could not be identified. Well, several more than usual concerning hot dogs.
Always be careful around home-made items, which can be troublesome. It's not just cookies and popcorn balls anymore. People are attempting to foist soups, dips and packets of sugar upon children. There is a case of a woman who had made caramel-covered jelly doughnuts. Kids did report her to the police, who arrived on the scene, tried a few and asked for the recipe.
We hope you take heed of this warnings. We do want to promote a safe Halloween and avoid the severity of eggings and T.P.-ing which often accompanies the distribution of these so-called snacks. Halloween should be an innocent time of
joy, delight, and the occasional satanic ritual.
