Zombie Free Halloween Tips

Tips for Halloween to help keep it Zombie free!

Halloween is a spooky time of year, but it doesn't have to be scary for your kids. The FDA has some helpful tips for parents to make sure their little monsters have a safe and fun night of trick-or-treating.

Here are some of them:

• Check the labels of your kids' costumes and accessories. Make sure they are flame-resistant and don't contain any harmful chemicals or allergens. Avoid masks that can obstruct their vision or breathing and opt for face paint instead. But be careful with face paint too. Test it on a small area of skin first to avoid any reactions. You don't want your kids to look like zombies for real, do you?

• Inspect the candy before your kids eat it. Throw away any candy that is unwrapped, tampered with, or looks suspicious. If your kids have food allergies, read the ingredients carefully and avoid any candy that may contain allergens. You can also look for teal pumpkins on your neighbors' porches, which indicate that they have non-food treats available for kids with allergies. Or you can just give them some broccoli and tell them it's candy. They'll love it!

• Keep an eye on your kids at all times. Make sure they have a flashlight, a cell phone, and an ID tag with their name and contact information. Accompany them if they are younger than 12. Set a curfew and a route if they are older. Remind them to stay on sidewalks, cross at designated areas, and never enter a stranger's house or car. Even if they offer you some really good candy still say, no!

• Have fun! Halloween is a great opportunity to bond with your kids and enjoy some spooky fun. You can also make it educational by teaching them about the history and traditions of Halloween, or by doing some fun crafts or experiments with them.

  
  

If you are planning to have a Halloween party here are a few home food safety tips.

• Avoid bobbing for apples or other games that involve sharing food or utensils. Bobbing for apples is a classic Halloween game, but it can lead to foodborne illness. An alternative game is possible: create paper apples with activities or games written on them and attach a paper clip to each one. Then use a magnet to pick up the apples and do the activities.

• You should also avoid unpasteurized juices or ciders which could contain harmful pathogenic bacteria. Look for the warning label to identify juice that hasn’t been pasteurized or otherwise processed.

• No raw cookie dough or cake batter. I know how good cookie dough tastes but avoid giving it to your little monsters. It is always best to avoid raw foods that could contain bacteria. Raw eggs used in cookie dough are a great example which is highly likely to contain Salmonella.

• Make sure all perishable foods are kept chilled until you are ready to serve them. Remember bacteria can sneak up on you like zombies! Make sure not to leave your perishables out for more than two hours or one hour if the temperature is above 90°F.

• Here you can find more from the FDA about keeping your little monsters from turning into little zombies. Halloween Food Safety Tips for Parents | FDA Just remember to follow the FDA's tips and you'll have a boo-tiful night!

• Here you can find some helpful advice from the CDC's web site. Happy Hauntings: 13 Tips for a Healthy Halloween | Blogs | CDC

  
  

D.L. Newslow & Associates, Inc. would like to wish you a Happy Halloween. We hope you have a safe and fun holiday. Enjoy your time with your little ones!

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