If your child is allergic to Halloween candy, look for the teal pumpkin

It’s not just quirky decoration. The teal pumpkins you might come across while trick-or-treating tonight mean something more.

Those funky pumpkins represent homeowners participating in Food Allergy Research & Education’s Teal Pumpkin Project, an effort to include those with food allergies in on Halloween festivities by handing out non-food treats like toys, stickers or glow sticks.

Food allergies and Halloween can make for a frightful combination if the family isn’t careful, but the Teal Pumpkin project hopes to ease some of that stress by promoting the option to give out candy as well as non-food treats.

FARE estimates that 40 million kids go trick-or-treating every Halloween and that one in every 13 children has a food allergy in the U.S. That’s an estimated 3 million kids with food allergy going door-to-door for candy that could be harmful to them.

But some children with food allergies would rather not participate at all. FARE’s initiative aims to include these kids back in on the Halloween celebration. They say it’s working, too, with millions participating after nationwide outreach over the last four years.

“It has been absolutely amazing to see families continue to embrace the Teal Pumpkin Project, whether they are personally affected by food allergies or not,” said Lois A. Witkop, chief advancement officer at FARE. “We know that it’s making a difference in so many lives and we are thrilled to grow this campaign on behalf of children who have food allergies, which are potentially life-threatening.”

The Tarpon Spring police and fire departments joined forces to raise awareness for the Teal Pumpkin Project in thrilling fashion – Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” that is. Members from the departments reenacted the ever-popular Halloween jam, but it doesn’t stop there.

The agencies used the video as a chance to urge other law enforcement agencies into action. A SWAT Team leader asked the Lexington Police Department, Empress Medical Services of New York, the Cincinnati Police Department and other departments nationwide to join in on the opportunity to spread the message about the Teal Pumpkin Project.

FARE suggests that participants place non-food items in a separate container than the candy they pass out on Halloween as an extra safety precaution.

Anyone looking to get in on the teal pumpkin action may do so, but FARE asks that they include their location on an interactive map so that families know where to go for safe Halloween treats. The organization’s 2017 goal is to have at least one participant on every block.

If your child has food allergies, it’s important to read the label every time, the organization says. Ingredients for candies that were once safe may have changed and it’s a good idea to carry an epinephrine pen at all times.

This story was originally published October 31, 2017 at 10:15 AM with the headline "If your child is allergic to Halloween candy, look for the teal pumpkin."