Halloween: Trick or Treating and Celiac Disease

The ghosties and ghoulies are out and about. To make your child’s holiday a fun and safe one, use these tips:

1) Children should accept only packaged treats. Children need to be instructed not to eat any candy until it has been inspected. This is a general rule these days because of concerns about safety and should not make your celiac child stand out.

2) Parents need to check labels. Label laws requiring manufacturers to list wheat in all its forms, makes it easier to find wheat although not rye or barley. There is, however, a lot of old packaging out there on which wheat is not flagged.

3) Parents must be knowledgeable about label reading and ingredients. For a complete list of gluten containing ingredients check http://www.gluten.net (health publications/gluten free diet)

4) The most commonly found gluten containing ingredient in candy is malt flavoring which is derived from barley

5) Chocolate bars may contain wheat in addition to malt flavoring.

6) Licorice has wheat. It is the gluten that makes licorice (both red and black) stretchy.

7) If offered baked goods of any kind, teach your youngster to be pro-active. The child can use it an educational opportunity. He can simply state that he is on a gluten free diet and ask if the person would like to know more. A good one page handout on celiac disease can be downloaded from the same site mentioned above. (http://www.gluten.net)

8) Children can bring their own treats to school parties. Hopefully, the parent has already discussed their child’s dietary needs with the school staff.

9) Finally... if in doubt... throw it out!