Toronto father finds needles in Halloween candy as police investigate

A Toronto father found sewing needles and pins hidden inside five Halloween treats collected by his children, and Toronto police are investigating the report. According to CP24, the family went trick-or-treating in the city's Upper Beaches area at about 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, and the father, Barry Horn, made the first discoveries while checking the candy the next morning.

Five treats affected, from KitKat to Snickers

Horn said his son broke open a KitKat bar and found a sewing needle inside, while his daughter noticed a magnet sticking to a Tunnock's caramel wafer biscuit, revealing a second object. Later in the evening he found pins in three more treats: a Cadbury Dairy Milk Oreo bar, a Cadbury Mini Toffee Crunch and a Snickers bar. Horn said the sharp objects were hidden inside the candy and not visible from outside the packaging: “This is clearly from somebody putting it in. This isn't a manufacturing thing because it's a sewing needle.”

What police say: one report under investigation

Toronto police say officers are investigating one report of needles in candy but have not confirmed a broader public safety concern. “If someone has concern about candy that was collected, they can call police to investigate,” a spokesperson said. “If this becomes a concern, a news release will be issued to inform the public.” No injuries have been reported and no suspect has been identified.

Similar reports in Oshawa and Quebec

Toronto is not the only place with such a report: CityNews reports Durham police are investigating a similar incident in Oshawa, near Ritson Road North and Taunton Road, where officers have been canvassing the neighbourhood. Quebec provincial police told CTV News they are investigating two reports of needles and metal pins found in chocolate, in Drummondville in the Centre-du-Québec region and in Saint-Marcel in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. Police advise parents to inspect Halloween treats before eating them and to report any suspicious items.