Officials Urge Iowa and Illinois Parents to Check Halloween Candy

As Halloween approaches, government officials and local police are issuing a serious warning to parents and caregivers throughout Iowa and Illinois: Be extra cautious when checking your kids' trick-or-treat candy. The alert stems from national reports of counterfeit snacks and sweets that look exactly like popular brands but actually contain dangerous drugs, including THC (the compound in marijuana) and extracts from hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Fake Candy Loaded with Drugs

The need for safety was highlighted by a recent police operation in Michigan. After executing a search warrant, the Warren Police Department seized fake candy and snack packages that were designed to perfectly imitate authentic, familiar products.
Lt. John Gajewski, a police spokesperson, emphasized how easily the fakes could fool anyone: “We thought to ourselves, 'Wow, if a group of trained investigators looked at this and didn't pay any attention, what's your average kid gonna do on Halloween?'"
Even though police have no evidence that the seized items were meant for trick-or-treating, Lt. Gajewski insists that parents must be aware of these drug-laced lookalikes. He also stressed a key safety point for people who legally possess THC products: “Put them away, lock them up like medication, so that somebody, an adult or a child, doesn't get them accidentally.”

What to Look For

The problem isn't limited to a single area; officials in other regions are also concerned about these imitation products being found even in common places like convenience stores.
David Potter, an enforcement director for Arkansas Tobacco Control, explained the risk: "The concern for us is that a lot of these products very closely resemble products that kids normally consume that are available in gas stations or grocery stores."
Lt. Gajewski offered clear steps for parents to take:

Check the packaging for anything unusual.
Look for "unusual symbols, unusual odors, anything that may indicate this isn't normal.”
Avoid any candy that is unwrapped or comes from a source you don't know or trust.
If you are concerned about a product, call your local police department.

Candy Companies Speak Out

The makers of genuine candy brands have confirmed they are not involved in making these dangerous fakes. The Ferrara Candy Company (which produces Troll and Nerds) released a statement expressing deep concern that their packaging is being used to make these illegal products. They confirmed that their authentic products, sold at major retailers, are safe.
The company stated: "We are deeply concerned that our candy packaging imagery or deceitful lookalike logos are being used ... intentionally or otherwise, [on] unregulated products that have been demonstrated to be unsafe for children."