Have You Heard About The Teal Pumpkins?

If you were a kid like me you bounded from house to house on Halloween trying to see how much candy you could collect before either your parents made you go home because it was too cold or it got too late. What if you’re a kid with a food allergy? Halloween isn’t quite as fun. Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies. That affects 1 in every 13 children in the U.S. It’s a potentially deadly disease, especially on Halloween. But all of that could be changed with the teal pumpkin!

A new campaign from the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) aims to make Halloween safe for everyone. It’s called the Teal Pumpkin Project.

The project encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies by providing non-food treats and painting a pumpkin teal to put on your doorstep so parents and children know that it’s a safe place to stop.

FARE recommends that families hand out stickers, glow-sticks, vampire teeth, bouncy balls, or spider rings instead of candy. Some might think it’s ok if you stay away from the candy that contains peanuts but one mom says that simply doesn’t work either. Apparently a small candy bar is manufactured differently then a large one and can still contain something her son is allergic to.

For those trick-or-treating with kids with food allergies it’s important to have an emergency plan in place and to carry all needed gear, including epinephrine autoinjectors.

If I hadn’t of bought all of my Halloween candy already I would be participating in this Teal Pumpkin Project. As someone who developed food allergies as an adult I know the dangers of what food can do to you. Next year I will be a teal pumpkin advocate! What do you think about the project?