Halloween Sadism: The 50-Year Myth That Poisoned Trick-or-Treating

The vast majority of candy tampering reports were hoaxes, but they soured an American tradition.

Trick-or-treaters wait in line in a colorfully decorated neighborhood in Sierra Madre, Calif., in a 2013 file photograph. Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

Joel Best, Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Criminal Justice at the University of Delaware, coined the term “Halloween sadism” to describe alleged candy tampering—and for over 50 years, he’s been the nation’s clearest voice separating myth from evidence.