SAN DIEGO — Rumors of contaminated candy always pop up around Halloween but is there any truth to them? Stories about razor blades in apples and poisoned candy usually to come around this time of year as trick-or-treaters head out to collect their bounty.
The truth to candy laced with poison story is that it did happen once. It was in 1974 in Texas and the little boy wasn’t drugged by a random stranger. The child’s father laced his son’s pixie sticks with cyanide.
The latest supposed concern on Halloween safety has been about treats laced with THC – the chemical in marijuana that produces a “high.” But is this one true or just another urban legend?
RELATED: Tricks to staying safe on Halloween
Part of the reason parents have this fear is because of Facebook posts including one from the Johnstown Police Department in which the agency reported finding Nerd ropes edibles laced with THC. But the police chief reportedly said there was no evidence the candy was intended to be passed out to trick-or-treaters.
Other cases of kids on the East Coast eating marijuana-laced candy had no ties to Halloween.
Criminal justice professor Joel Best at the University of Delaware who researches this topic says it is a myth.
"I have been unable to find a substantiated report of a child killed or seriously injured by a contaminated treat picked up in the course of trick or treating,” he said.
San Diego authorities report similar finding.
"In my 23 years, I’ve never investigated a case personally or [have been] told of a case where we’ve had laced candy,” said San Diego Police Department Lieutenant Shawn Takeuchi.
He says it is always a good idea however to inspect your child's candy.
"Just as a good practice - if your child is receiving something from strangers you may not know - look through it,” Takeuchi said. “If you're not sure of something, dispose of it.”