Is Poisoned Candy a Real Halloween Risk?

Halloween seems to breed urban legends. You've got the headless horseman, ghosts, zombies, and a collection of horror stories that end in a hook hanging from a car's side-view mirror. 

And then there's the threat that your child will be given tainted Halloween candy from a serial killer or some sadistic psychopath you obviously didn't know lived in your neighborhood.

This Web site about urban legends said that there is actually a term for this, "the myth of the Halloween sadist."

While anything is possible, is this really something you should be concerned with? 

Short answer: Not really.

There has never been a report of a child injured or killed by candy they got while trick-or-treating, the Dallas News reports. 

Fox News reports that in 1974 one child did get sick from a Pixi Stick that was laced with cyanide. The alleged tamperer wasn't a stranger though — it was the child's dad.

Then, in another case from the 1970s, a 5-year-old got into his uncle's heroin and overdosed. The family tried to cover the incident by tainting some of his Halloween candy to throw suspicion onto neighbors. It didn't work. 

The Dallas News also produced this list about Halloween activities that are more dangerous than tainted candy including pumpkin carving and walking in the streets. 

Still worried? How to check Halloween candy

• Tell kids not to eat anything until they get home.
• Check treats under bright lights.
• Throw away anything that looks suspicious.
• Throw away candy with a twist wrapper.
• Wash fruit and cut it into small pieces.
• Throw away homemade treats.

Patch asks: Are you worried about poisoned Halloween candy? Do you check it before you dig in? Tell us in the comments.