Fort Collins police officers are scratching their heads after a citizen reported finding a sewing needle inside a piece of candy tossed in her direction during Saturday's Tour de Fat parade.

Fort Collins resident Betsy Welk said she was watching the parade in the 500 block of Mountain Avenue with her friend and her friend's 3-year-old son when passing cyclists tossed candy at the crowd.

Welk asked her friend if she could give some candy to the boy, but the mother said no because she didn't know the people who threw the candy and thought it might be a choking hazard.

When Welk unwrapped a piece of the candy to enjoy for herself on Sunday, she said she found what looked to be a sewing needle in the middle of the green, chewy candy.

"Your mind kind of goes to the worst place ... but I really have no clue how it got there," she said, adding that it's possible the needle entered the candy by accident in someone's pocket or was part of a parade-goer's costume.

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Welk's friend reported the incident to Fort Collins Police Services. FCPS spokeswoman Kate Kimble said it was the only such report received by police.

The incident is hard to investigate because Welk and her friends are unsure who threw the candy, Kimble said. Tour de Fat, held annually by New Belgium Brewing Co., is a bike parade that draws thousands of participants from the public.

Welk said she threw the candy and needle in the trash after taking a photo of them.

Kimble said the incident serves as a reminder to be careful with food and candy — even if it's wrapped.

"As a general precaution, it's always a good idea to check any candy for tampering before you eat it if you didn't get it from a store," she said.

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