Halloween sadism stands as a major threat to U.S. children. As children and adults throughout the nation prepare for the arrival of Halloween, the age-old urban legend of malicious candy distributors tainting Halloween treats with razor blades and poison could be a topic of discussion despite lacking evidence.
This enduring myth has haunted parents and caregivers for generations, and it has cast doubt over the safety of trick-or-treating, leading cautious adults to comb through and scrutinize bags of hauled candy before consumption.
But how much truth is there to this frightful Halloween dadism narrative?
Joel Best, a professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware, investigated alleged “Halloween sadism” between 1958 and 2012 and found that in all years but two, there were either one or none reported.
The two exceptions, in 1970 and 1971, when about a dozen incidents were reported, coincided with an unfounded opinion piece that ran in The New York Times, “Those Treats may be Tricks.” (Alas, as we know all too well now, mimetic misinformation is highly contagious.) Professor Best concluded, categorically, that “there were no instances in which an anonymous sadist caused death or injury; the data offer no justification for the claim that Halloween sadism stands as a major threat to U.S. children.” The “vast majority” of the reports to the contrary were hoaxes, and beyond that, the reports were “unfounded.”
“Halloween sadism can be viewed as an urban legend, which emerged during the early 1970s to give expression to growing fears about the safety of children, the danger of crime, and other sources of social strain,” the study goes on. “Urban legends, like collective behavior and social problems construction, are responses to social strain, shaped by the perception of the threat and social organization.”
Reports of tampered candy and close-calls with narcotics masqueraded as candy has come up in recent years, but luckily none have resulted in serious injuries.
In 2018, an 11-year-old was charged in North Carolina for putting sewing needles in Halloween candy, which were distributed to trick-or-treaters and injured at least one child in Rowan County, Fox News Digital reported at the time.
That same year, a couple from Oregon reportedly consumed methamphetamine-laced gummy candies that they obtained from their children’s Halloween bags, according to a press release published by the Washington County Sheriff’s office.
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How do you know if Halloween candy has been tampered with?
Although tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any of the following candies that they have:
-An unusual appearance or discoloration.
-Tiny pinholes or tears in wrappers.
-Spoiled or unwrapped items.
Why do parents check Halloween candy?
Still, it’s not a bad idea to check your child’s candy, just to be sure that nothing has gone bad or has gotten unwrapped. What candy are you giving out this year for Halloween?
What happens if you don’t check your Halloween candy?
If you don’t check, or aren’t aware, your kids could ingest THC instead of the unaltered snack. Miyares said this can be dangerous for kids especially if they’re getting candy from someone they don’t know.
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