It’s almost time for Halloween and we’re all excited to pick out a scary (or super) costume and terrorize the neighbors for some well-deserved candy. But, it’s also a time to watch out for those food sensitivities that might end your night of trick or treating in stress and discomfort. When preparing for this year’s Halloween, be sure to accommodate for a candy allergy ot sensitivity where possible. That’ll help prevent the night from ending in tears.
Creepy Candy Allergy Symptoms
Being prepared for possible reactions means knowing what to look out for. The most common symptoms of a sugar allergy are a good place to start. It may be rare, but a sugar allergy can be present and range from mild to severe in its symptoms.
Peanut allergies are a more common allergy to watch out for, but both have the potential to make your Halloween a tad more macabre than desired. Common symptoms to be on the look-out for are:
• Stomach cramps and vomiting: If enjoying sugar or other popular Halloween ingredients (e.g. food dye, pumpkin or peanuts) cause stomach cramps or vomiting, (ranging from moderate to severe)it could mean you’re suffering from an allergy.
• Breathing problems: Wheezing, shortness of breath or any oral swelling can occur when a sugar allergy is present. Quite similar to other food allergies, anaphylactic shock can also occur.
Having a sweet allergy means that your immune system sees sugar or peanuts as an immediate threat and attacks that threat accordingly This causes the allergic reaction upon ingesting it. This reaction is often almost instant and can change with each occurrence. This is why proper allergy testing is paramount when determining what is causing the reactions. One mild reaction doesn’t mean you won’t see another, far worse reaction further down the line.
Allergy or Sensitivity?
While sugar intolerances aren’t all that common, sugar sensitivities are much more common than people realize. If you suspect that sugar is an issue for you, but labeling it an allergy doesn’t quite fit, you might benefit from testing for sensitivities. You can learn more about the difference between allergies and sensitivities here.
Check the ingredients list on your treats for sweet allergies:
Even though a lot of companies produce peanut-free sweets, you’ll want to be careful to check the ingredients list for other common allergies.
You could also consider making your home allergy-free by hopping on the blue pumpkin wagon.
They’re a movement offering allergen-free Halloween treats so kids with intolerances and allergies can still enjoy the hair-raising holiday.
Sweet sensitivities and allergies don’t have to be the end of Halloween for your family. You just need to be ready to work through the ingredients lists and any changes it might mean for your Halloween celebrations. It’s not the end, It’s just a shift to make it enjoyable for everyone and their dietary needs.
