If you go trick-or-treating this year, you might notice some houses with a teal pumpkin outside the doorstep.
These houses are part of the Teal Pumpkin Project, and they are promising to provide non-food or allergy-friendly treats on Halloween that anyone — especially those who have food allergies — can enjoy. Teal is the color for food allergy awareness.
The project, ran by Food Allergy Research and Education, is in its fourth year of letting trick-or-treaters with allergies know which households they can safely visit.
“One in 13 children in the U.S. has at least one food allergy, and reports show that anaphylactic food reactions have climbed dramatically in recent years,” said Lois Witkop, chief advancement officer with Food Allergy Research and Education. “It’s clear that food allergies are a serious public health issue that we all must take seriously. The Teal Pumpkin Project provides an opportunity for all of us to show empathy for kids who often feel excluded. We would love to see at least one teal pumpkin on every block — and it’s a terrific way for communities to come together to celebration inclusion.”
