Father discovers sewing needles in children's Halloween treats

Fear replaced excitement for a Toronto family after a father uncovered sewing needles concealed within five separate pieces of Halloween candy. Barry Horn, 53, inspected the sweets gathered by his children on October 31 and found metal objects embedded in the packaging of multiple brands.

The discovery process

Horn spoke to CP24 about the incident, explaining that the danger first emerged when his son broke open a KitKat bar. Inside the snapped chocolate, the boy discovered a sewing needle. The second instance involved his daughter, who noticed her magnet sticking to a caramel wafer. When Horn opened the Tunnock’s product, he found another metal pin hidden within the layers.

Concerned by these initial findings, the father proceeded to examine every other item collected during the neighborhood rounds. Using a magnet to screen the remaining chocolates, he identified three additional products containing needles. The specific items flagged were Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo, Cadbury Mini Toffee Crunch, and Snickers. Horn demonstrated one of the compromised bars on camera, showing how the needle was invisible from the outside packaging.

Safety warnings issued

Horn suggested the metal parts may have been placed intentionally into the confectionery. He expressed deep worry about the potential harm to younger children who might not inspect their haul before eating it. "It is scary to think what would happen if a three or four-year-old put a needle-filled chocolate in their mouth," he stated. Although the family consumed some treats earlier in the evening, none of the five contaminated items were eaten, resulting in no injuries.

Police investigation launched

Toronto Police confirmed they are investigating reports of needles found in candy. Authorities noted that it has not yet been determined whether this constitutes a broader security threat. Officers urged residents who encounter suspicious sweets to contact them immediately. Because the family visited multiple streets during their trick-or-treat route, police have not identified which specific houses provided the tampered products.

Similar incidents reported

Reports indicate a comparable event occurred in Oshawa, Ontario. Durham Regional Police opened an inquiry following complaints of sewing needles in Halloween treats near Ritson Road North and Taunton Road. Investigators are currently examining whether any connection exists between the Toronto and Oshawa cases. Police across the region continue to advise parents to carefully check all collected candy before allowing children to consume it.