Despite the lack of evidence, parents still sometimes panic over candy that looks strange. Usually the appearance is due to variations in the manufacturing process or in storage. Chocolate can appear gray when the candy has been exposed to too much heat or moisture (See Why does chocolate turn gray sometimes?). The white powder that sometimes appears on the surface of candy is often sugar, salt, or cornstarch that wasn’t completely sifted off during manufacturing.

This isn’t to say parents shouldn’t be vigilant and inspect their child’s candy when they get home and throw away anything they feel is suspicious.

• Wikipedia: Candy scare
• Snopes.com: Halloween Poisonings
• Halloween Safety Guide
• Halloween Safety Tips

Post from: Chocolate Bytes