Police have issued a warning regarding a hidden danger in candy that is being passed on to children ahead of Halloween.
As we approach the end of October, it can only mean one thing - spooky season is well and truly here.
Many kids will be out trick or treating in the coming weeks, and officials have issued a warning regarding candy in the buildup to the big day.
That is because police are investigating an incident that saw sewing pins in candy passed out to children during an event for the Santa Fe Independent School District in Santa Fe, Texas.
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The Santa Fe Police Department took to social media last week to issue a warning regarding the candy, stating it went out to at least three homes after being passed out during a parade celebrating a school homecoming.
The police department said in an initial statement: "Santa Fe PD has received several calls from concerned parents after today's Homecoming Parade because of sewing pins found in candy picked up at the parade. The parents were in different areas along the parade route, ranging from Centennial Oaks to Highway 6 and Warpath.
"If anything is found, please contact SFPD at the non-emergency line, 409-925-2000."
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A follow-up statement issued on Thursday (October 16) said: "SFPD Officers went to at least 3 different homes within the community last night and confirmed the presence of the sewing pins in candy given out at the parade last night.
"Dispatch also received calls from other parents in the community advising that they found pins in candy brought home."
The SFPD confirmed they are continuing to investigate the incident and that they will release more information when it is readily available.
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Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the concerning danger, after parent Jeremy Partin was first to report the incident, KHOU 11 reports.
Partin's 18-year-old daughter is said to have opened a KitKat bar from her younger sibling's bag only to find a sewing pin stuck inside.
The Santa Fe resident told the outlet: "She’s like, ‘Well, I’m glad I did grab it, because look at this.' There it is, clear as day—a needle coming right out of the chocolate. This was no accident. They stuck it right in. This was deliberate."
Ahead of Halloween, it's important for parents to be aware of taking candy of strangers.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises parents to to 'tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped'.
Callum Jones