LANSING, MI (WNEM) -
As the excitement around Halloween builds, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reminds residents to inspect children's candy and follow food safety tips to have a safe Halloween.
MDARD says before trick or treating, remind children not to accept or eat anything that isn't commercially wrapped. These items may not have been properly made or packaged and could contain bacteria that may cause food borne illnesses. Children should also be fed a light meal or snack to keep them from eating candy before you've had a chance to inspect it.
"It's important for parents to look through their child's Halloween candy," said Kevin Besey, MDARD Food and Dairy Division Director. "Parents should be looking for signs of tampering, such as discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious."
If hosting or attending a Halloween party, follow these simple food safety tips to ensure a safe holiday celebration: Avoid eating dough and batter that contained uncooked eggs. Keep perishable foods chilled until serving time, including sandwiches, cheese platters, fruit or salads, cold pasta dishes with meat, poultry, seafood, and cream pies or cakes with whipped-cream and cream-cheese frostings. Serve pasteurized products at your parties; unpasteurized juice or cider can contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella. Look for warning labels to avoid juice that hasn't been pasteurized or processed, especially packaged juice products that may have been made on site.
For food safety tips or information, visit www.Michigan.gov/foodsafety.
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