Always check candy and food with caution, not only on Halloween

The Prairie du Chien Police Department is reminding citizens to be cautious at all times with candy or food items, and not just after seeing Halloween-related social media posts about it. 

On Oct. 31, the police department took a report of a suspicious “crystal like” substance that was found at the bottom of a trick-or-treat bag. Officers recovered the item and tested it for all known illicit drugs. All tests were negative. Additional testing revealed the substance was most likely salt, similar to ice melt used for sidewalks/roads.

On Nov. 1, the Prairie du Chien Police Department received a peanut butter cup from a parent who felt markings on the cup were suspicious and the consistency of the product was not of usual quality. All initial tests for illicit substances also found negative results. Further testing is being considered though.

“With recent releases by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office about ‘meth candy’ being found prior to Halloween, I understand the extreme caution taken by citizens,” said Chief Kyle Teynor in a statement Nov. 3. “However, this caution should be used at all times, not just when prompted by a press release or social media post. Inspect your candy and food items; if the original packaging isn’t consistent with typical product quality, throw it away. This logic isn’t just used on Halloween. But, because the packaging is damaged or not typical, it does not mean something sinister is happening. 

“My kids took part in trick-or-treating on Halloween throughout Prairie du Chien, and the process of inspection took place in my house also. My kids were happy that none of their candy was thrown away.”