"Andy" > wrote in message ...
> "gloria.p" > wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>> In other years I have given away home-made fruitcake, cookies, jam or
>> jelly, coffee liqueur, Irish cream liqueur, an original spice blend,
> and
>> candied pecans.
>>
>> My daughter made soap last year in various scents and additives
>> like oatmeal, herbs, and even coffee grounds for an abrasive kitchen
>> soap to remove food odors. We took a class together and she really
>> got creative. She also packaged them very attractively in colored
>> tissue with a band listing the scent and ingredients. People loved
> them.
>>
>> The candied pecans are wonderful but not exactly inexpensive.
>>
>> gloria p
>
>
> gloria p,
>
> Be careful about allergies when giving stuff like that out! Are the
> ingredients listed on a label?
>
> Past Halloweens I didn't include Hershey's chocolate bars with peanuts
> to void any concern. I know the parents pour over the "score" first, but
> still!?!

Actually most Halloween candies are not safe for people with nut allergies.
The reason being that those fun sized bars are not always made in the same
facility as the full sized ones. If you look carefully at the package there
is often a disclaimer that they may contain traces of... And they will go
on to state things like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg or even wheat. If the
child has a life threatening food allergy, many parents will not allow them
to have any candy collected from Trick Or Treating because those little
wrappers do not list the ingredients or may contains statements. They will
usually swap the candy for safe treats or even money.

For many years we gave out only toys for Halloween. We bought them from
Oriental Trading Company or SS Worldwide. In particular, rubber ducks and
stuffed animals were the most popular. While I did get some Halloween
themed items I also got some things that could be used at any time of the
year. That way if I had any leftovers, I took them to my daughter's school
for other events to be used as prizes.

Seeing as how my daughter is 12 now, we have no use for leftover little
toys. This year we got full sized Hershey bars from Costco and also some
mini Fruit Rollups in case anyone has an issue with chocolate. I know that
the full sized Hershey Bars are safe. We got the same thing last year but
also some Junior Mints (daughter wanted those), Mike and Ike and Starburst.
All full sized. All from Costco. The Hershey bars were what 95% of the
kids wanted. So Hershey it is!

Two years ago we got boxes of assorted Ferrera Pan candies from the
manufacturer. I am fine with my daughter eating the Lemonheads,
Cherryheads, etc. But they do also make Boston Baked Beans which contain
peanuts. I suppose most parents with a peanut allergic kid would not allow
them to have anything from that company.