As you walk around the neighborhood for some Halloween fun this year, you might find yourself wondering why some of the pumpkins are teal.
These pumpkins don’t come from a strange patch, but from a new national campaign called the Teal Pumpkin Project that’s promoting food-allergy awareness this Halloween.
Though it is often the time of year for kids’ blood sugar to collectively skyrocket, not all are able to enjoy the treats most people hand out. According to Food Allergy Research & Education Inc. (FARE), the campaign’s sponsor, 1 in 13 kids in the United States has a food allergy that can be life threatening.
Displaying a teal pumpkin indicates that a home is offering trick-or-treaters a non-food treat option.
“We are seeing a lot of people embrace it,” said Veronica LaFemina, vice president of communications for FARE. “It makes sense to have other options for all trick-or-treaters to feel safe and included in their Halloween experience.”
To participate, individuals paint a pumpkin teal and display it, or post a free, printable FARE sign from the organization’s website, then provide non-food treats to trick-or-treaters on Halloween. FARE suggests offering trinkets such as glow sticks, bracelets, bubbles, vampire fangs and spider rings.
Some non-food treats still contain allergens, such as Play-Doh, which contains wheat. FARE recommends choosing wheat-free and latex-free items.
Will kids be saying “Trick or toy” now? Probably not, but providing the option could make a little tyke’s Halloween experience much better.
For more information or to download a teal pumpkin sign, visit foodallergy.org.
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