The color pumpkin designated for allergy awareness during Halloween is teal. This distinct, non-traditional color serves as a universal symbol indicating that a household promotes inclusion for children with food allergies. A teal pumpkin displayed on a doorstep or in a window signals that the home offers non-food treats, providing a safe alternative to traditional candy. This visual cue transforms the trick-or-treating experience, making it possible for all children to participate in the holiday fun.
The Teal Pumpkin Project: Signaling Safety
The teal pumpkin is the internationally recognized symbol for the Teal Pumpkin Project, an initiative championed by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). This movement encourages people to offer non-food treats alongside or instead of candy to ensure a safer Halloween experience for every child. When a teal pumpkin is visible, it communicates clearly that the home is a welcoming place for children who must avoid common candy ingredients.
The teal color has been associated with food allergy awareness for years, making it a natural choice for this holiday initiative. Participating households simply place a painted pumpkin or a sign featuring the teal symbol in a visible location outside their home. This sign promises that non-food alternatives, such as glow sticks, small toys, or stickers, are available.
While many homes offer both candy and non-food treats, the crucial element is the clear differentiation signaled by the teal pumpkin. The project is not intended to replace all candy but rather to ensure that children with dietary restrictions are not excluded from the joy of trick-or-treating. These non-food items allow every child to receive an item that does not pose a health risk.
Why Non-Food Treats Are Essential
The Teal Pumpkin Project addresses a public health concern, as food allergies affect approximately one in 13 children in the United States. For a child with an allergy, contact with a trigger food can cause a severe, life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis. This reaction can progress rapidly, requiring immediate treatment with an epinephrine auto-injector.
Halloween candy presents a particular risk because many popular treats contain major allergens like peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, and soy. The presence of these ingredients is often concentrated in fun-sized versions, complicating label reading. Furthermore, the risk of cross-contamination is high when candy is manufactured or packaged in facilities that also handle allergens.
Research has demonstrated a sharp rise in emergency room visits for peanut-triggered anaphylaxis on Halloween, showing an 85% increase compared to the daily average. This spike is attributed to children receiving treats from individuals unfamiliar with their allergies. Offering non-food treats eliminates the need for ingredient scrutiny, removing the inherent danger found in many commercially produced candies.
Simple Steps for Participation
Joining the movement to create an inclusive Halloween is straightforward. Treat-givers can source inexpensive non-food items, such as bouncy balls, pencils, vampire fangs, or mini containers of play dough, which can be purchased in bulk. It is important to keep these non-food treats in a separate container from any candy being handed out to prevent cross-contamination.
The central action for participation is displaying the teal pumpkin or a printable sign provided by FARE in a prominent location near the front door. Households can also register their participation on FARE’s interactive Teal Pumpkin Project map. This map allows families managing allergies to plan a safe trick-or-treating route in advance, guiding them directly to houses offering safe options.
For parents of children with food allergies, using the FARE map is the most direct way to find participating homes. After trick-or-treating, parents should conduct a “candy check” on all collected treats, even those from the teal pumpkin homes, to ensure safety. Many families opt to trade their child’s collected candy for pre-approved treats or a new toy, keeping the focus on the fun of the experience.