Why You May Spot Teal Pumpkins This Halloween

The Food Allergy Research & Education is encouraging people to give out non-candy treats for Halloween and let families know by painting a pumpkin teal and placing it on their porches.

Halloween can be a challenge for parents of trick-or-treaters with food allergies.

Screening candy can be difficult and some children may feel singled out because they receive less than their friends.

However, the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) group has started a new campaign called the “Teal Pumpkin Project” that recommends giving out non-food treats and letting other families know by painting a pumpkin teal and placing it on porches.

Possible non-food treats include: glow bracelets, pencils, vampire teeth, mini notepads, and playing cards. You can see more on FARE’s website.

“Food allergies are potentially life-threatening. When we are looking at a Halloween celebration, it is really nice to provide something that is safe,” FARE spokeswoman Veronica LaFemina told Today. She noted that one in 13 children in the United States has a food allergy.

In a post on FARE’s blog, the campaign said that it has reached nearly 5 million people on Facebook. The hashtag #TealPumpkinProject is also filled with photos from many Twitter users embracing the campaign.

Here is some of what people have shared:

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