16 Oct 2018 
Researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies. As any parent of a food allergy child will tell you, it can be stressful and frustrating — not to mention, extremely worrisome. With Halloween around the corner, consuming one piece of the wrong candy can have dangerous effects. After all, some of the most common allergens, like nuts, seeds and dairy, are found inside many popular candy bars.
That’s where the Teal Pumpkin Project™ comes in, and parents everywhere are catching on to the idea. Launched in 2014 by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the Teal Pumpkin Project™ raises awareness of food allergies and promotes inclusion of all trick-or-treaters so the holiday can remain a fun, positive experience for everyone. Last year, households from 50 states and 7 countries participated in the project. This year, the movement is expected to grow exponentially.
So, how does it work? Read on to find out how parents are participating this year (with a lot of help from the color teal…)
Autumn is here, and parents all over the country are seeing more and more teal pumpkins placed outside their neighbors’ door — but these bright blue pumpkins have a more powerful meaning than you may think.
The Teal Pumpkin Project™ was launched by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) in 2014. It’s a fun way to signal that a home offers non-food treats to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. This way, kids with food allergies, diabetes and other medical issues can still enjoy fun and safe treats.
Instead of candy, parents are beginning to offer up bubbles, bouncy balls, stickers, crayons, markers and much, much more.
According to Foodallergy.org, researchers estimate that up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 1 in every 13 children. That’s roughly two kids in every classroom.
Since Teal Pumpkin Project™ started last year, thousands of food allergy moms have caught on to the all-inclusive idea behind every kid’s favorite holiday.
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