If you’ll be putting out a teal pumpkin this Halloween, be sure to add your address to the crowd-sourced fever map and let your local community know that you are participating.We keep talking about Teal Pumpkins, but what do they actually mean? You can hand out candy and allergy-safe items and then let the kids choose which one they’d like. Supporting the Teal Pumpkin Project and handing out non-food treats doesn’t mean that you have to give up the Halloween tradition of giving out candy. FARE also provides free printable signs to explain the meaning behind the teal pumpkin and a list of ideas to give out to trick-or-treaters. Once you have your teal pumpkin, place it in front of your house to let trick-or-treaters know that you have non-food items available. “It’s a simple approach that allows children with food allergies to safely enjoy the holiday with their family and friends.” “We are so happy to be able to support this initiative,” said Wegmans Nutritionist Trish Kazacos, RDN. Teal pumpkin paint is available at local grocery stores. The paint can be found in the seasonal section, near the pumpkin carving kits, and a portion of the proceeds benefit FARE. Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., for example, sells paint specifically for the Teal Pumpkin Project. If you would like to take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project and offer a non-candy treat to trick or treaters, you can either buy a teal pumpkin or paint your own. Many candies contain at least one of those ingredients. Some of the most common allergens for children are nuts, milk, wheat, egg and soy. “Then I have to ask about the cleaning process for the machines as well.” Join the Teal Pumpkin campaign “I’ve called manufacturers before to ask if a product that doesn’t contain peanuts is made on the same line as another product that does,” she added. “If I’m not familiar with the candy, it either gets thrown away or I have to research it to see if it’s OK for my kids to eat.” “The smaller candy that is handed out at Halloween doesn’t typically list the ingredients,” she said. She’s spotted a few teal pumpkins in her neighborhood, but hopes to see more as the word gets out about the campaign. But when they get home, they go through the candy to ensure that it’s safe to eat. When Garofalo’s kids go trick-or-treating, they still collect all of the candy. Olivia and Anthony Garofalo are ready for an allergy-free Halloween. The teal pumpkins allow them to have another option.” They might feel left out if they can’t have something the other kids can have. “There are so many times during school or birthday parties when my kids have to be careful about what they eat. “As a parent, the Teal Pumpkin Project means inclusion,” said Garofalo. Garofalo heard about the Teal Pumpkin Project from one of FARE’s email newsletters. Her daughter is allergic to peanuts and her son is allergic to shellfish and tree nuts. “One bite of the wrong candy by these kids could cause life-threatening allergic reactions,” said LouAnne Giangreco, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Healthcare Improvement at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “We’re thrilled that our communities are rallying around these kids so that they can also indulge in special ‘treats’ and have fun, just like everyone else.” A parent of children with food allergies is grateful for the Teal Pumpkin ProjectĬolleen Garofalo of Madison County is a mom to two kids who have food allergies. Credit: Christine Leavenworthįood Allergy Research & Education (FARE) started this international campaign in 2014 to “create a safer, happier Halloween for all kids.” It began as a local activity by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee that has morphed into an international awareness event. A teal pumpkin indicates a house that is giving out allergy-safe items to children with allergies on Halloween.
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