Kathrine Frich
Police confirmed multiple incidents and urged families to remain alert as the investigation continues.
Just days before Halloween, a community in Santa Fe, Texas, has been shaken by reports of sewing needles hidden in candy handed out to children during a local parade.
Growing alarm
Officers from the Santa Fe Police Department said they had received several calls from parents who found needles inside sweets collected at the city’s annual Homecoming Parade, an event that celebrates local high school students.
Three separate cases were verified by police, according to reports cited by Le Figaro.
“SFPD officers went to at least three different homes in the city and confirmed the presence of sewing needles in candy distributed during the parade,” the department said in a statement.
Officials also confirmed additional calls from concerned parents reporting similar discoveries.
Investigation under way
No injuries have been reported so far, but police have opened an investigation to determine how the needles ended up in the candy.
Authorities have asked anyone who finds suspicious items to call the department’s non-emergency hotline at 409-925-2000.
Many parents believe the contamination was intentional, heightening fears in a country where Halloween festivities draw millions of children each year.
Local officers are patrolling neighborhoods and warning families to double-check all treats before consumption.
Federal warning
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also reminded parents to carefully inspect any sweets children receive during seasonal events.
“Tell children not to accept, and especially not to eat, anything that is not commercially packaged,” the agency said. It advised families to look for “signs of tampering, such as unusual appearance, discoloration, small holes, or tears in the packaging,” and to discard anything suspicious.
Although no further cases have been confirmed, the discovery has cast a shadow over Halloween celebrations and revived long-standing fears about the safety of trick-or-treating.
Sources: Ziare.com, Le Figaro, Santa Fe Police Department, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Reuters, AP
This article is made and published by Kathrine Frich, who may have used AI in the preparation
