A local social service agency reached out to hundreds of food bank clients this past week after a wrapped mothball was found in a bag of candy.
And Share Family and Community Services said it has received no reports of anyone who ate one or felt any adverse effects.
"We've reached as many folks as we possibly can," said Martin Wyant, executive director of Share, which runs the food banks in Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam serving 1,100 clients.
Last week, Fraser Health sent out a public health warning informing people not to eat anything resembling a small white candy wrapped in clear plastic with blue writing on it that a client brought in after eating one they said came from a bag they received from Share.
Fraser Health said eating the mothball could cause burning of the mouth and throat, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, seizures and shortness of breath.
The mothball was found last Wednesday and by Thursday evening, more than 600 food bank clients had been telephoned; those who couldn't be reached by phone were sent a letter warning them not to eat the item and to throw away the bag of loose candy.
A volunteer also spoke to clients who are homeless and Hope for Freedom Society outreach workers were also asked to speak to their homeless clients.
Share will now be considering whether to continue to give loose candy as an additional perk with hampers. Although they aren't put in the hampers, the bags of loose wrapped candy are made available to people when they pick up their hamper.
Candy is a popular item to donate and Share only puts wrapped candy in the plastic bags.
"What we want to focus on is whether we can safely do it," Wyant said. "If we can, then fine."
