For many, Halloween signifies carefree holiday fun. For families dealing with food allergies, it is a very scary holiday. Many traditional Halloween treats can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, about 32 million people in the United States have food allergies. It is estimated that one in every 13 kids has a food allergy. The most common food allergen for children is milk, egg, peanuts, soy, wheat, and tree nuts.
Food allergies can develop in both children and adults. Additionally, reactions can be mild or severe. A major concern with food allergies is that the severity of the reaction can increase with each exposure. This alone can make the situation scary for children and parents. Symptoms can include hives, minor stomach issues, or severe anaphylaxis.
The goal of the Teal Pumpkin Project is to increase awareness of food allergies and promote inclusion in treats so that all kids can enjoy the holiday. An easy way to do this is to have non-candy items on hand to hand out during trick or treating events. Additionally, there are candies that are free of the top +8 allergens and are considered to have no cross-contamination.
The Teal Pumpkin Project is something very near and dear to my heart as my son and many other children suffer from these food allergies. Every year I make a conscious decision to offer parents and children non-candy items. We have a teal pumpkin that is placed outside to let other parents know we have allergy-friendly items on hand.
We would love to see more families participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project. You can learn more about the program and how you can participate HERE
The TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT and the Teal Pumpkin Image are trademarks of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
Top 8+ Allergen Free Candy:
Dots (original and tropical sour flavors)
Ring Pops
Skittles
Smarties
Starburst (Strawberry, Lemon, Orange and Lime flavors)
Swedish Fish
Blow Pops
Dum Dum
Jelly Belly
Tootsies Roll
Tootsies Pops
You can purchase these items locally or shop at our Amazon link HERE. Please note this is a commissionable link.
