Halloween food safety tips for parents

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating gets kids excited, but parents should remember to exercise caution while their little ghouls and goblins haul in candy. Below are some helpful safety steps from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to consider.

Trick or Treating Tips

- Children shouldn’t snack while they’re out trick-or-treating. Urge your children to wait until they get home and you have had a chance to inspect the contents of their “goody bags.”

- To help prevent children from snacking, give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach.

- Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.

- Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies or small toys.

- Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.