There’s no time of the year more fun for your kids than when they get to dress up as their favorite character and go door-to-door to collect treats. If you have kids with food allergies, however, this time could be stressful. Fortunately, there’s a new movement called the Teal Pumpkin Project that allows kids with allergies to participate in Halloween festivities safely.
About the Teal Pumpkin Project
The organization Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) created the worldwide movement called the Teal Pumpkin Project in order to create a safer, happier Halloween for all kids. This project was inspired by a local awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET).
Participants in the Teal Pumpkin Project put teal pumpkins on their doorsteps to indicate they have available non-food treats. This simple act promotes inclusion for kids with food allergies or intolerances as well as other conditions such as Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), celiac disease, food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), diabetes, special diets and feeding tubes.
How to Get Involved
To get involved with the Teal Pumpkin Project, you can purchase non-food treats such as glowsticks or other small toys to hand out. Avoid items like moldable clay that contains wheat and other toys that contain latex. It’s okay to also pass out candy – just make sure you put the candy in a different bowl than the non-food treats to prevent cross contamination. Then, on Halloween, put out a teal pumpkin to indicate you have safe, inclusive treats. You can paint a pumpkin yourself, purchase one already painted or simply hang a print-out of a teal pumpkin on your door. Then, if you want, you can add your house to the Teal Pumpkin Project map.
Facts About Food Allergies
Food allergies are life-altering at best and life-threatening at worst. In addition, they’re a growing public health problem: in the U.S. one in 13 children has a food allergy. That’s roughly two children per classroom. For these kids, even a tiny amount of allergen exposure can cause a severe reaction. Common triggers include nuts, milk, egg, soy or wheat – all of which can be found in Halloween candy.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an allergy expert, call ENT of Georgia North today.