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Halloween safety check: How common is it to find tainted candy?

You may have seen warnings pop up on social media asking parents to be on the lookout for drugs that look like Halloween candy. How common is it?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Halloween is finally here, and as little goblins and ghosts hit the streets for trick-or-treating, law enforcement agencies are warning parents to be vigilant about what ends up in their kids' buckets. 

You may have seen these warnings pop up on your social media asking parents to be on the lookout for drugs that look like Halloween candy. But is this common, and what do you need to look out for? 

OUR SOURCES

WHAT WE FOUND

Aycock and Renfrow said drugs disguised as Halloween candy are very rare. 

"We didn't have anything like that," Aycock said. "We are always on the lookout for that."

"I have never, as a pediatrician, seen a case or incident like that where a child was made sick where something was put into candy, like drugs or poisons or toxic substances," Renfrow said.

However, it's not something to dismiss entirely. Aycock said you should still be on the lookout for anything suspicious in your kid's Halloween basket.  

"Go through the bag with them and know what to look for," Aycock said. 

The FDA lists ways to check Halloween candy. They said don't eat candy until it's inspected at home, look at the wrapping and make sure there are no tears in the wrapper or tiny pinholes, throw away anything that looks suspicious, and check the ingredients if you are not sure what type of candy it is. 

Aycock said a bigger concern is traffic. Make sure your kids are in groups or supervised, and wear something like a glow stick or have a flashlight if you're out trick-or-treating. 

Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

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