Tainted Candy in NY? Worry More about the Other Kind of Food Poisoning

Halloween has passed, but it is never too early to think about next year’s Halloween-related safety issues.

There are a lot of urban legends surrounding Halloween, but one of the most memorable and consistent is the threat of personal injury due to tainted candy. Whether it’s razor blades and needles or arsenic and cyanide, tainted candy is on everyone’s mind.

However, while you should certainly be cautious when it comes to unwrapped or suspicious trick-or-treating loot, the real danger you need to be concerned about is regular food poisoning.

Let’s look at which Halloween treats are the most susceptible to food poisoning and then go over food safety tips that will help you prevent a Halloween nightmare next year.

Beware of Food Poisoning This Halloween

Whether you are planning to throw a Halloween party or just attend one next year, there are a few things you should watch out for when it comes to the food.

Caramel apples. This delicious treat is a staple during Halloween, but if they’ve been sitting out for a while, you might want to pass.

In 2014, 35 people who had eaten commercially prepared caramel apples ended up in the hospital due to Listeria monocytogenes – bacteria that can cause vomiting, headaches, and fever. The cause? The caramel apples had reached room temperature, enabling the bacteria to grow.

If you need a caramel apple fix, make sure you’re getting one that’s cold and has been kept in the refrigerator.

Cooked food. If you plan to cook food next Halloween, be sure to check the internal temperature of your dish to avoid the risk of food poisoning. Poultry and meat should be cooked at proper temperatures.

Also, make sure any perishable foods aren’t left outside of the refrigerator for too long because that’s a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Produce. Serving fruit and vegetables at a Halloween party is a healthy alternative to all that candy, but make sure you wash all produce before preparing or eating. Even if you’re just bobbing for apples instead of eating them, you should still rinse your produce thoroughly to ensure it’s free of bacteria.

Wash your hands. Regardless of whether you’re preparing food to serve others or simply dishing out the food to enjoy, it’s imperative to wash your hands to avoid contaminating the food or contaminating others.

Signs of Food Poisoning

While you can take all of these necessary precautions, you can’t control everything. Sometimes food poisoning happens, so you need to know what to watch for.

Bacteria like Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and others are the most common causes of food poisoning and can cause a number of signs and symptoms, including:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Abdominal pain or abdominal cramping
• Nausea
• Fever
• Dehydration
• Muscle pain and cramping

For the most part, if you get food poisoning, you simply have to wait it out and should get better in a few days to a week. There are some times, however, where you might end up with a more serious case.

In the event that you need to be hospitalized due to food poisoning, you might want to reach out to an experienced New York personal injury lawyer to determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit to recover damages. In tragic cases where food poisoning causes death, a wrongful death claim may be viable.

Hopefully, though, if you follow these tips to avoid food poisoning, you’ll be able to stay safe next Halloween!