Why the Teal Pumpkin? Recognizing a New Allergy-Friendly Symbol This Halloween

INSIDE: Learn the meaning of teal pumpkins, the seriousness of food allergies at Halloween, and the project that started it all.

It’s that time of the year again!

A chill in the air, mums on the front porch, jack o’ lanterns and… a teal pumpkin?

You read that right. Teal pumpkins are popping up more and more around neighborhoods in the U.S., signaling that a home’s Halloween treats are allergy friendly— or, they have non-food items.

And that’s a good thing, as statistics show that 1 in 13 children suffer from food allergies— that’s about two in each classroom.

Though some may think that parents are just being “dramatic”, food allergies are no joke. Allergic reactions can range from immediate anaphylaxis (as in, a child’s throat closes up) to digestive issues, to (yes, I mean it) - death. The top eight allergens that most food allergy sufferers react to are: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

Those “Top 8” make fall festivals, trunk-or-treats, and the main event, Halloween, especially overwhelming to parents of children with food allergies.

It’s hard to keep our children from eating candy or treats that might harm them, while also doing our best to make sure that they don’t feel left out. That’s why, this year, we’ve continued the tradition of putting out a teal pumpkin along with non-food treats to give away to trick-or-treaters.

Another group that also benefits? Children fed through feeding tubes.

The Teal Pumpkin Project began in 2014 among a group of allergy parents, led by Becky Basalone, in East Tennessee. What started as a community tradition has grown to a movement throughout the U.S.

But what if your child doesn’t have a food allergy? You can still participate! Offering an alternative to candy is a wonderful way to practice inclusion.

Stumped about what to pass out instead of food items? We’ve got you covered! Check out our list of 5 Non-Food Treats to Pass Out on Halloween (all of which are available on Amazon Prime!)