Food Allergy Research & Education

Trick-or-treating is an integral part of Halloween but with so many kids with food allergies, it’s gotten trickier (pun intended) for them to participate. Asking a kid to participate in trick-or-treating with a great costume but not being able to allow them to collect and eat most of the candy is simply no fun.

Approximately 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies and one in 13 children under 18 are affected. Between 1997 and 2011, there was a 50% increase in food allergies, according to Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). Every three minutes, someone in the United States has to visit the emergency room due to a food allergy.

About Teal Pumpkin Project

FARE started the Teal Pumpkin Project in 2014 to help spread awareness of food allergies around Halloween time. Families interested in participating simply put a teal pumpkin outside their homes to show trick-or-treaters that they provide non-food items like small toys, stickers, glow sticks and other items that won’t trigger food allergies. This way, Halloween can be fun for all.

Make The Pledge!

Sign up your house to be included on Teal Pumpkin Project’s interactive map of homes offering non-food treats on Halloween by CLICKING HERE.

To learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, visit its website where you can get ideas on how to make Halloween safer at your house. There are tons of neat flyers, posters and other materials to download, free.

I adore this idea! Kids can get treats and parents don’t have to worry as much about their kids being exposed to allergy-causing foods.

Get involved!

Veronique