As Halloween approaches, there’s really only one thing front and centre of the minds of most children: trick-or-treating. Along with spooky decorations and fun costumes, going door-to-door to get a collect a satisfying bounty is all part of the Halloween tradition. But unfortunately, there are very real dangers associated with trick-or-treating that parents must be aware of. One such danger that many people completely overlook are food allergies.
In the US alone, approximately 15 million people have food allergies. This includes one in 13 children under 18. Even more frightening is that studies suggest that food allergies seem to be increasing, particularly among children. If you happen to be allergy-free, consider yourself very lucky and try to appreciate the challenges faced by allergy sufferers—eating one wrong ingredient can be fatal.
Introducing the Teal Pumpkin Project…
The folks at Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) created the Teal Pumpkin Project after being inspired by the efforts of a mother in Tennesee. “The Teal Pumpkin Project promotes safety, inclusion, and respect for all those managing food allergies,” explained Nancy Gregory of FARE. Before the Teal Pumpkin Project, most children with allergies were simply not allowed to participate in trick-or-treating but this project has changed everything. So how does it work?
Putting a teal pumpkin outside your home lets children and parents know that you have fun non-food items to give away to those with food allergies. Brilliant! The idea has been spreading rapidly across the nation, meaning more children can have a happy Halloween!
Watch the video below for the full details and please help spread the word by sharing this story!
Source: foodallergy.org and tealpumpkinproject.org
