The Teal Pumpkin Project is an initiative launched by FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) to protect children with food allergies. The project encourages households to provide non-food treats so children with food allergies and other children for whom candy is not an option, are able to enjoy a safer happier Halloween. This is done by painting a pumpkin with teal paint, and placing it in a visible location to let trick-or-treaters know that there are non-food prizes or allergy-safe options in your home.
Some non-food treats that all children enjoy:
Notepads
Plastic jewelry (rings, necklaces, bracelets)
Glow sticks
Play-doh
Temporary Tattoos, stickers
Bubbles
Mini-coloring books and crayons
Bouncy balls
Whistles
Coins
Of course, all kids love candy. And there are candy options available for every food allergy out there. We have compiled our own list of safe candies for the most common food allergies for you to download and print here: Safe Candy
***We always encourage parents to double-check ingredients and Allergen Warnings before consumption of any candy.
A little about food allergies:
***What is a food allergy? The job of the body’s immune system is to identify and destroy germs (such as bacteria or viruses) that make you sick. A food allergy results when the immune system mistakenly targets a harmless food protein – an allergen – as a threat and attacks it, causing an allergic reaction. Here is a short educational video about food allergies.
***A reaction can range from a mild response (an itchy mouth) to a severe and potentially deadly anaphylactic reaction.
***Even a tiny trace amount of the food allergen can cause a deadly reaction.
***1 in 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy.
***Up to 15 million Americans suffer from food allergies.
***Food allergies have seen a 50% increase between 1997 and 2001.
***Every 3 minutes, a food allergy reaction sends someone to the Emergency Room.
***Food Allergies can develop at any time throughout life and occasionally are outgrown.
***There is no cure for food allergies.
***Eight foods account for 90% of all reactions.
So this October, help us in supporting a safe and happy Halloween for all kids and join The Teal Pumpkin Project! Get your pumpkin, teal paint, and safe treats ready. Download a free sign here also or save and print the one below. Because teal is the new orange!!!
