SHOCKING | Police warn parents to check Halloween sweets after needle found in chocolate bar

Tuesday 3 November 2026

Parents, guardians and carers across Northern Ireland are being urged to carefully check children's Halloween treats after a sewing needle was discovered inside a wrapped chocolate bar in the Rathfriland area of County Down.

Police received a report of the discovery on Tuesday 3 November and have issued a public safety warning, advising families to inspect sweets collected during trick-or-treating before allowing children to eat them.

No injuries have been reported at this stage.

What parents should look for

Officers are urging families to examine all Halloween sweets, including both wrapped and unwrapped items, for anything unusual or suspicious.

Particular attention should be paid to packaging that shows signs of possible tampering, including:

• Unusual tears or damage to wrappers.

• Small pinholes in packaging.

• Broken or disturbed seals.

• Any other suspicious signs that an item may have been interfered with.

The warning follows the reported discovery in Rathfriland, although police have not indicated that any other contaminated sweets have been found.

Police urge caution over suspicious treats

Anyone who discovers a suspicious item or believes packaging has been tampered with is advised not to handle it further and to contact police immediately.

The discovery serves as a reminder for families to check Halloween treats carefully, particularly where children have collected sweets from multiple locations.

While no injuries have been reported, police are urging parents and carers to remain vigilant and ensure treats are inspected before they are eaten.