Beech Tree News Network

Teal Pumpkin Project for a Safe Halloween with Food Allergies

This time of year is full of wonder and excitement as kids gear up to go trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Unfortunately for kids with food allergies, Halloween can be more trick than treat. Many traditional Halloween treats contain food allergens that aren’t safe for children with life-threatening food allergies. This means that Halloween can be a dangerous and limited affair for these children. Thankfully, the Teal Pumpkin project seeks to make Halloween fun and safe for children with food allergies!

The Teal Pumpkin project seeks to provide kids with food allergies a safe place to trick-or-treat. To join in the project, all you need to do is stock up on non-food treats for your trick-or-treaters (see ideas below). Non-food treats are fun ways to provide safe items for trick-or-treaters with food allergies. Next, place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate you have non-food items available. This helps parents know that your home is a safe place for their child with food allergies to visit on Halloween. Lastly, if you are passing out candy and non-food treats at your home, be sure to first ask if anyone has food allergies. Offer non-food treats to groups with food allergies. Your participation in the Teal Pumpkin project will help make Halloween fun for all kids and families!

Some spooky non-food trick-or-treat items:

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Glow stickers, bracelets, or necklaces

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Bubbles

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Mini slinkies

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Whistles, kazoos, noisemakers

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Bouncy balls

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Vampire fangs

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Playing cards

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Fake tattoos

Follow this link to learn more and to download your very own teal pumpkin poster: https://www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project