Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) offers many tools and resources to help you educate yourself and others about food allergies. From your local community to Capitol Hill, information and awareness are keys to making a difference.
FARE’s Teal Pumpkin Project is designed to promote safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies.
Did you know a teal pumpkin can make a kid feel like a superhero? 1 in 13 kids of the 15 million Americans that have food allergies and can’t participate in trick-or-treating. Halloween is the perfect time to ensure that every child feels included & special. By participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project you can make this a reality for the 6 million kids living with life threatening food allergies. The goal is to have every block in America with at least one home where if even for a moment, all children feel safe & welcome to trick or treat.
We are determined to help spread awareness, as well as shed light on what this initiative truly means for kids and families. It’s more than safe food for kids with allergies. It’s about kids and families feeling safe, accepted, and heard.
Participating is easy with 4 simple steps:
Putting a teal pumpkin on your doorstep means you have non-food treats available, such as glow sticks or small toys. This simple act promotes inclusion for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.
- Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters
- Place a teal pumpkin in front of your home to indicate to passersby that you have non-food treats available
- Add your home to the Teal Pumpkin Project map
- Spread the word! Share the Teal Pumpkin Project with your friends and family
Examples of non-food treats to provide:
Available at dollar stores, party supply stores, or online shops, these low-cost items can be purchased and handed out to all trick-or-treaters, or made available in a separate bowl from candy if you choose to hand out both options. Nearly all of these items can be found in a Halloween theme or festive colors.
- Glow sticks, bracelets, or necklaces
- Pencils, pens, crayons or markers
- Bubbles
- Halloween erasers or pencil toppers
- Mini Slinkies
- Whistles, kazoos, or noisemakers
- Bouncy balls
- Finger puppets or novelty toys
- Coins
- Spider rings
- Vampire fangs
- Mini notepads
- Playing cards
- Bookmarks
- Stickers
- Stencils
ARE THERE ANY NON-FOOD TREATS THAT I SHOULD AVOID?
There are a few considerations when choosing which non-food items to hand out. First, some non-food items still contain food allergens, such as some brands of moldable clay, which may contain wheat. Additionally, try to choose latex-free items, as there are children who have latex allergies.
CAN I STILL PASS OUT CANDY?
Sure – just do it safely! The point of the Teal Pumpkin Project® is to make trick-or-treating as inclusive as possible. You can keep the experience safe by keeping your food treats and non-food treats in separate bowls.
Click here to add your home to the interactive map to let families know you are participating!