Do You Know Someone Who Needs a Teal Pumpkin?

Trujillo is still learning the ropes of what can and can’t trigger her daughter’s seizures, so Halloween can be a scary time, she said. This way, families with food allergies know that your home is a safe stop for non-food treats.

As professionals debate why more children have food allergies these days compared to decades ago, sensitivity to the issue has spread to classrooms and cafeterias nationwide.

Around 15 million Americans – and one in every 13 kids – are spooked by food allergies, according to the experts.

There’s nothing worse than watching Mom toss half your candy loot, or nix trick-or-treating all together, because of safety concerns. Parents of children with celiac disease and diabetes are also often faced with the challenge of explaining to their little ones that they can’t have the candy they are offered. The staff will be educating about Epi-pen usage, as well as pumpkin decorating, allergy free treats, and the first 50 families will receive a large pumpkin to take home. You’ll feel proud knowing you are doing your part to create a safer, happier Halloween for all of the children that visit your home this year.

Every Halloween, Becky Basalone and her 8-year-old son Miles run along their cul-de-sac dropping off non-food “treats” to neighbors. “I mean, If I have a peanut allergy and I get candy with peanuts in it, I just don’t eat them”, says one commenter on a Yappi.com forum called “How many people on here hate the Teal Pumpkin Project?”

Dr. Tracy Fausnight, a pediatric allergist and immunologist at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, said the most common food allergies for young children are milk, egg and peanut. “She’s going to trick-or-treat like any other kid”.

That’s where a teal pumpkin comes in.

Last year, over 300 walkers participated in the Knoxville FARE Walk.

Nonfood treats such as stickers, pencils, bubbles, crayons, friendship bracelets, bouncy balls and bookmarks are also typically well-received by princesses and superheroes alike. This year, FARE is hoping to see 100,000 households pledge their support. CNN and NBC’s Today show have covered it, and the DIY Network has a gallery of teal pumpkin craft ideas.