Parents horrified as they find needles in their children’s Halloween candy
In this DML Report…
Santa Fe Police Department in Texas has launched an investigation after multiple reports of sewing pins found in candy distributed during the city's Homecoming Parade, which took place along the route from Centennial Oaks to Highway 6 and Warpath. Officers verified the presence of pins in candy at least three homes and received additional reports from parents across the parade route describing similar findings in candy brought home by children. No injuries have been reported from these incidents. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes that hard or sharp foreign objects in food can cause traumatic injuries, including lacerations and perforations to the mouth, tongue, throat, stomach, and intestine, as well as damage to teeth and gums, though objects smaller than 7 millimeters rarely cause serious harm except in vulnerable groups such as infants, surgery patients, and the elderly.
One resident, Jeremy Partin, reported that his 18-year-old daughter discovered a sewing pin lodged in a KitKat bar while unwrapping candy from the parade; he described the pin as deliberately placed under the wrapper's flap, suggesting an intentional act. Partin's family has attended the parade annually as a tradition, and while his children plan to participate in trick-or-treating this Halloween, they intend to swap any collected candy with store-bought treats for safety. Police initially referred to the objects as "pen needles" in their statement but corrected this to sewing pins. Officers contacted Partin following his report to inform him of similar complaints from others and have visited affected homes to confirm the findings.
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In response, the Santa Fe Police Department issued a public safety warning ahead of Halloween, advising anyone who attended the parade to thoroughly inspect their candy and report any suspicious items. The department urges the public to contact its non-emergency line at 409-925-2000 regarding discoveries of tampered candy or related information. No suspects have been identified, and the investigation remains ongoing.