Sweet laced with cyanide and needles in marshmallows, we’ve lengthy been warned to be suspicious of the candy treats handed out by strangers at Halloween. However plainly most tales of “Halloween sadism” are simply that, tales. No youngster appears to have been killed by adulterated Halloween sweet… properly… there’s one horrible exception. The poisoned Pixy Stix of Pasadena, TX.
Cautionary Tales is written by me, Tim Harford, with Andrew Wright. It’s produced by Ryan Dilley, with assist from Courtney Guarino and Emily Vaughn.
The sound design and unique music is the work of Pascal Wyse. Julia Barton edited the scripts.
Because of the crew at Pushkin Industries, together with Mia Lobel, Jacob Weisberg, Heather Fain, Jon Schnaars, Carly Migliori, Eric Sandler, Emily Rostek, Royston Beserve, Maggie Taylor, Nicole Morano, Daniella Lakhan and Maya Koenig.
Additional studying and listening
Joel Greatest’s unique analysis paper with Gerald Horiuchi is “The Razor Blade within the Apple” Social Issues Vol 32 No 5, June 1985; Professor Greatest’s up to date information and dialogue is at his web site.
On William Shyne, try Ineffective Data (and take into account subscribing to the Ineffective Data podcast).
On the homicide of Timothy O’Bryan, I relied on Michael Segalov “The True Story of the Infamous Trick-or-Deal with Assassin” at Vice, David Skal’s e-book Halloween, Joel Greatest, Snopes, and up to date press (UPI).
On understanding information and misinformation round youngster abduction see Michael Hobbes on the Huffington Submit.
Different information on dangers to youngsters from the BBC’s Extra or Much less program, the US Kids’s Bureau, the US Shopper Product Security Fee, and the CDC.
