Why do we worry so much?

When I was young and trick or treating, there were a dozen homes in the neighborhood that we would make sure to stop at. Mrs. Newman on Second Street always made the very best candy popcorn balls. Mrs. Skinner had the shiniest red candy coated apples. There were mothers in the neighborhood that took the time to make Halloween treats.
Today, I wonder if anyone still makes those special treats or if everyone totally relies on store bought candy. Would parents even allow their children to eat those homemade treats?
A recent survey in the Globe and Mail found that 50% of parents would never allow their children to eat a homemade candy handed out on Halloween. Only 6% of parents would feel comfortable in permitting their children to eat homemade treats without any hesitation.
We have become a world of fear. If candy and sweets were not made in a factory or a commercial kitchen, society would have you believe that it is not safe to eat.
In the United Church in Fort Frances there is a notice “Consume food at your own risk”. For decades churches and not for profit groups have relied on the donation of baked goods, sweets and sandwiches to raise funds.
Gone today are many of the fund raising barbecues and out door food events that once thrived around the district. Health regulations today prevent those activities since cooking raw meat over a family style barbecue is frowned upon.
Would we post a similar notice on the front and back doors of our homes to warn us about the danger of having home cooked meals? I think not.
Christmas is coming and we will be attending lots of gatherings with family and friends. If anyone has seen me, they will notice that I have never been a person to shy away from food. I seem to have an addiction, and at Christmas everyone seems to go all out to tempt me.
We will lay out spreads of our very best. Our very best baking; our very best hors d’oeuvres, our very best stuffing and turkey will grace our tables. Friends and families will bring gifts of food to add to our plenty and we will indulge.
Will we worry that the cranberry relish was made by Aunt Harriett or the Christmas pudding by Uncle Garnett both to old time historic family recipes?
Will we worry that our friends and family cooked the food? Not a chance in the world. We will try everything. Will we encourage our children to try new foods and tastes at the table? Of course we will.
So why do we worry less about eating food prepared by family and friends in their homes, than we do about our children enjoying homemade Halloween treats prepared by those same family and friends.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher