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Halloween Safety
Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe This Holiday By Jill Eggleton Brett
If any piece of candy looks suspicious, refer to the following information from the City of Upland Police Department as a guide. These are descriptions of irregularities in candy due to manufacturer defect:
- Graying chocolate: Caused by exposure to heat or dampness.
- Indentations: Created by a timing imperfection in the wrapping process.
- Spots: Black or brown spots may be sugar burned in the manufacturing process.
- White lumps: This is a manufacturing problem. Could be undissolved starch used in the enrobing process or sugar or salt from peanut butter.
- Air bubbles: Result of a manufacturing defect.
- Stickers
- Pencils
- Nickels/Dimes
- Small Notepads
- 100 percent fruit rolls
- Toothbrushes
- Small jars of bubbles
Montclair Plaza, a shopping mall in Montclair, Calif., offers many activities for children on Halloween during the day and the night. "We organize games for the kids, a costume contest, and we hand out candy," says Diana Espino, public relations representative for the plaza. "The kids that join us here in the mall have a blast every Halloween. Parents love it, too! I believe it's because we have a safe environment where everyone can just relax and enjoy themselves."
Local churches are also a good place to inquire about Halloween alternatives. Calvary Chapel of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. hosts an annual event called "Hallelujah Night" on Halloween.
"We want to show our town that there is a group of people out there that genuinely cares about the children in the community. It's our goal to provide an environment that's better than the usual trick-or-treating scene," says Assistant Pastor Dave Morgan, father of three. "My own children have so much more fun during the Hallelujah Night celebration. We provide lots of games, face painting, balloon animals, a moon bounce and, of course, candy!"
To find out more about safety practices or Halloween alternatives in your community, contact your local police department and chamber of commerce.