Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Buy, Store & Serve Safe Food

Buy, Store & Serve Safe Food

                        Food Facts for Consumers
          Food Safety in Your Kitchen
          5 Red Flags to Look For When Shopping for Meal Kits
          Everyday Food Safety for Young Adults Home
          Food
          Resources for You (Food)
          Consumers
          Buy, Store & Serve Safe Food
          Halloween Food Safety Tips for ParentsBuy, Store & Serve Safe Food Halloween Food Safety Tips for Parents
  
  	
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintEven though it’s not an official holiday, Halloween is much beloved by children and adults alike. What could be more fun than trick-or-treating, apple bobbing, or costume parties?

Halloween Pumpkin with candy

To make sure treats are safe for children, follow these simple steps:

**Snacking**: Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Urge them to wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.
	**Safe treats**: Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. 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.
	**Food Allergies**: If your child has a food allergy, check the label to ensure the allergen isn’t present. Do not allow the child to eat any home-baked goods he or she may have received.
	**Choking hazards**: If you have very young children, be sure to remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.**Bobbing for apples** is an all-time favorite Halloween game. Here are a couple of ways to say “boo” to bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.

Reduce the number of bacteria that might be present on apples and other raw fruits and vegetables by thoroughly rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.
	Try this new spin on apple bobbing from FightBAC.org: Cut out lots of apples from red construction paper. On each apple, write activities for kids, such as “do 5 jumping jacks.” Place a paper clip on each apple and put them in a large basket. Tie a magnet to a string. Let the children take turns “bobbing” with their magnet and doing the activity written on their apple. Give children a fresh apple for participating.If your idea of Halloween fun is a **party at home**, don’t forget these tips:

Beware of spooky cider! Unpasteurized juice or cider can contain harmful bacteria such as *Salmonella*. To stay safe, always serve pasteurized products at your parties.
	No matter how tempting, don't taste raw cookie dough or cake batter that contain uncooked eggs or unbaked flour.
	“Scare" bacteria away by keeping all perishable foods chilled until serving time. These include finger sandwiches, cheese platters, fruit or tossed salads, cold pasta dishes with meat, poultry, or seafood, and cream pies or cakes with whipped-cream and cream-cheese frostings.
	Bacteria will creep up on you if you let foods sit out too long. Don’t leave perishable goodies out of the fridge for more than two hours (1 hour in temperatures above 90°F).Safety Tips for Decorative Lenses and Novelty Makeup

Novelty Makeup

Choosing to change the look of your eyes with contact lenses could cause a lot of damage to your eyesight if you get them without the input of your eye care professional. Learn more about Decorative Contact Lenses.

Face paints can be fun on Halloween and other special occasions. Make sure your painted-on designs don't cause problems like leaving you with a rash, swollen eyelids, or other reaction. Learn more about Novelty Makeup.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      02/17/2022
              
              
Regulated Product(s)
		 Cosmetics
			  			     			  			     Food & BeveragesBuy, Store & Serve Safe Food

          
                        Food Facts for Consumers
          Food Safety in Your Kitchen
          5 Red Flags to Look For When Shopping for Meal Kits
          Everyday Food Safety for Young Adults
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop