Trick or treat? Urgent child poison warning issued for parents ahead of Halloween.
Before heading out to trick-or-treat this Halloween, the Administration for Children's Services is issuing an urgent warning for parents.
More Stories
With Halloween just days away, the Administration for Children’s Services is urging parents to take extra precautions — warning that cannabis edibles and common household products can look just like candy or juice to kids.
At first glance, it can be hard to tell which gummies or brownies are cannabis-infused. “They look like regular candy,” one Bronx resident told News 12. Another said, “Nope! I can’t tell and I’m old.”
“Anything could be toxic to children, especially if they’re ingesting it,” said Michele May, assistant commissioner for ACS.
May says children are naturally drawn to colorful, candy-like items — which can be dangerous when parents’ “adult candy” isn’t stored properly. Last year, more than 540 New York children were poisoned by cannabis products, according to the Upstate Poison Center — more than double the number of cases reported in 2023.
For toddlers, it’s as easy as reaching into a bottom cabinet and grabbing what looks like Sour Patch candy. ACS recommends locking up any products that could be harmful. “You can use a lock box… or you can keep things locked away with a cabinet lock,” May added.
The danger goes beyond cannabis-infused sweets. ACS warns that household cleaners and medicines can look like sugary drinks or candy — even small batteries can attract children. “Children are curious, and so they’re attracted to stuff that is colorful,” May said.
“Looks like Tic Tacs,” she said while holding up a bottle of medication. “They look like candies… if you look at them they’re shiny,” she added about button batteries.
ACS says a few moments of prevention can protect kids — not just this Halloween, but all year long.
