For years now, opponents of celebrating Halloween have been coming up with all sorts of ideas on how to disgust children with this pagan and, according to some who are more ardent in their beliefs, even satanic holiday. In addition to the standard repertoire of behavior, such as more or less polite chasing away and indiscriminate challenges, this year there was also the insertion of unpleasant surprises into the candy. But while swapping an almond nut for a clove of garlic in a popular praline won't do anyone much harm, putting nails, pins or even razor blades into candy can be deadly.
- If a child swallows such a candy, he risks, in the simplest terms, injuring the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach or intestine. These foreign bodies can sometimes pass freely through the digestive tract and do no damage, but in most cases, unfortunately, they need to be removed, and this is not at all easy. Any damage to the gastrointestinal tract with a foreign body carries life and health risks. The consequences can be long-lasting," comments lek. Iga Detka-Kowalska, specialist in gastroenterology, head of the endoscopy laboratory at Kielce St. Alexander Hospital.
Signals from parents whose children have encountered candy with such additives have come from all over Poland. Doctors are outraged.
- This simply cannot be commented on. I don't know what is in these people's heads and for what purpose they are doing this. I have no words for it," says Iga Detka-Kowalska.
