A pharmaceuticals supplier has distanced himself from a Halloween publicity stunt by Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar after she distributed toothpaste samples in trick or treat bags she handed out to children.

Last week, the former Parliamentary Secretary posted photos on her social media platforms of ‘goody bags’ that were handed out to children for Halloween. The bags were filled with sweets but Cutajar said she had also included a small toothpaste tube in each bag “to promote oral hygiene.”

In a letter sent to dentists, the supplier said he had nothing to do with the stunt.

“Most of you are aware that last week an MP distributed sweets together with a sample of our Vitis toothpaste brand. Please be assured that in no way did I promote the consumption of sweets and surely did not sponsor their purchase for this campaign,” the supplier wrote.

“As often happens, I was contacted by a government department and asked for the said samples to be distributed among school children. It was never my intention to have this politicised or to be associated with the consumption of sweets.”

However, in comments to Times of Malta, the supplier said the company had actually been contacted by a member of Cutajar’s team. A foreign colleague who is unfamiliar with local politics had assumed that the person was calling on behalf of a government department.

Earlier this week, Children’s Commissioner Pauline Miceli said that she is “uncomfortable” seeing politicians give out sweets and treats to children as part of their campaigning. She was replying to an email by independent candidate Arnold Cassola,  who asked whether it is normal practice and acceptable for “political candidates to go on the doorstep of primary schools and give sweets to children with their names on the bag so that they can pick up a vote from their parents.”