Teal Pumpkin Project returns for second year

A teal-colored pumpkin signifies a house that’s handing out non-food treats to children with food allergies.

The Teal Pumpkin Project, which launched in the United States past year and has begun catching on in Canada, indicates a household that has non-food options available for children with food allergies who aren’t able to enjoy the traditional candy treat. There’s a new initiative this year that could help save a little kid’s life. “It’s tough. So many common sweets contain top allergens”.

Campbell’s son has a severe allergic reaction to any products with eggs or milk in them, which constitutes the great majority of candy sold.

The idea is simple and effective: people can take a pumpkin, paint it teal and put it outside their door to alert trick-or-treaters that allergy safe foods or non-edible treats can be found there.

One in 13 children in the US has a food allergy. “If you can make someone’s day better at no real cost to yourself, why not?”

Last year, she painted a pumpkin and handed out glow sticks in her Lake Morton neighborhood – and they were a big hit.

Those who did have allergies were grateful, Moses said. “I’ll definitely keep doing it”.

The Teal Pumpkin Project was created in order to protect kids with allergies from any bad experiences during Halloween and to include them into the trick-or-treating tradition without any danger to their health or disappointment with the experience.

According to a crowd-sourced map on the project’s website, two houses in Franklin are participating, along with about 10 more homes within about a 30-minute driving distance.

For many, Halloween offers children the chance to score as many sugary treats as they can in a given timeframe, but for those with food allergies the customary ritual can be more trick than treat. However, by participating in the Food Allergy Research & Education’s (FARE) Teal Pumpkin Project, homeowners can make Halloween fun and, most importantly, safe for all children.