Halloween Teal Pumpkin Project for Food Allergy Awareness

The Teal Pumpkin Project® is back and bigger than ever, as the annual campaign from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) expands and aims for a teal pumpkin on every block in every neighborhood in the United States.

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One in 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy, a potentially life-threatening disease that presents many challenges for millions of families across the country. This Halloween, FARE encourages people to show their support for kids with food allergies and other dietary restrictions to participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project®, an awareness initiative that promotes safety and inclusion for all trick-or-treaters.

Being part of the Teal Pumpkin Project is simple. Supporters can:

• Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters
• Paint a pumpkin teal or buy a teal pumpkin at your local craft store or pharmacy, or print a free sign from FARE's website
• Place your teal pumpkin or sign in front of your home to indicate non-food treats are available.

"This year in particular, more people are becoming aware of how life-altering a food allergy diagnosis can be, and how difficult it can be to manage this potentially life-threatening medical condition," said Lois A. Witkop, Chief Advancement Officer at FARE. "We hope that everyone who participates in the fun tradition of Halloween will incorporate a teal pumpkin into their celebration, bringing smiles to the faces of kids with food allergies."

Halloween can present a number of challenges for individuals and families managing food allergies because many popular candies include the most common allergens. In addition, different sizes of the same candy can use different ingredients, and smaller sizes of some candies that are popular during this time of year do not always have clear labels stating their ingredients.

Launched nationally in 2014, the Teal Pumpkin Project has attracted supporters from 50 states and more than a dozen countries. The campaign was inspired by a local awareness activity run by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee. This year, a number of national retail partners are supporting this important initiative, making it easier than ever for people to participate.

FARE has a number of resources to help individuals and families get involved, including:

• Ideas for non-food treats,
• Free downloads such as official Teal Pumpkin Project signs, fliers, stencils and stickers,
• Halloween Essentials Kit, posters and garden flag available for purchase from FARE's e-store,
• An online crowd-sourced map that shows households participating
• Ideas for Teal Pumpkin Project-themed fundraisers