Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about Halloween. For some people, the most frightening part of Halloween isn’t the monsters. It’s the peanuts that are found in so many treats. Peanuts are a common source of food allergy that can be fatal to some people, and peanut products are found in a lot of treats.
Dr. David Khan, an allergist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says parents of children who are allergic to peanuts need to be especially careful on Halloween night. Make sure children don’t eat treats until they get home and can have them checked. Read the labels on candy and baked goods to look for products containing peanuts, peanut butter, peanut oil, peanut flour or mixed or ground nuts. If fun-size bars don’t have ingredient lists, check with the manufacturer.
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October 2007
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