An initiative from the Food Allergy Research & Education organization is hoping to provide an allergy-free Halloween to children across the United States.
Founded in 2012, The Teal Pumpkin Project is a community initiative that seeks to provide a safe Halloween for kids with food-allergies.
The initiative asks participating households to display a teal pumpkin (or teal pumpkin signage) outside their residence to indicate that they offer non-food treats for trick-or-treaters.
One-in-13 children suffer from food allergy, and more than 65% of children with food allergies have had a negative Halloween experience because of their disease, according to a recent informal poll conducted by FARE.1 The organization says polling of food allergy families reveals that Halloween’s biggest challenge is avoiding exposure to allergens.1
“Food allergies are a disease, not a diet, and for children with food allergies, Halloween can present new opportunities for accidental exposure instead of fun and joy,” FARE said in a press release.
Teal Pumpkin Project Renews Partnership with CVS
The project is partnering with CVS Pharmacy for the third year to offer food-allergy safe items in select stores and online.
CVS says it is expanding its Teal Pumpkin Project line this Halloween, offering over 60 non-food items, including trick-or-treat buckets, light-up bracelets, glow sticks, pumpkin flashlights, and new bulk items like prefilled mini-teal pumpkins—”perfect for trunk-or-treat events and Halloween night,” it said in a press release.
“FARE is doing transformative work for Americans with food allergies, and we’re honored to partner with them again,” said Brian Eason, Vice President of General Merchandise and Consumables, CVS Health. “Our hope is that by continuing to expand our in-store and online selections of Teal Pumpkin products, we’re making it easier for more families to celebrate this Halloween season.”
Recent Award
Earlier this year, the Teal Pumpkin Project was selected as a HALO Award recipient in the category of Best Disability Initiative.
The category recognizes initiatives that “increase access to resources, raise visibility for challenges the community faces, change policies and systems to serve people with disabilities better,” according to a FARE/CVS news announcement.
The HALO Awards annually honor “corporate and nonprofit partnerships that skillfully intertwine their resources to have a measurable impact on the cause and the business,” highlighting initiatives from Sun Outdoors & National Park Foundation, Subaru & AdoptAClassroom.org, Lowe’s & Points of Light Foundation, and more.
Get Yourself a Teal Pumpkin
FARE has several resources available for individuals or organizations wishing to get involved, including signage and recommendations for safe, non-food treats.
Individuals can also pin their residence to an online map of participating Teal Pumpkin Project homes in the US, which allows families to plan their local Halloween routes.
More information, including resources for participating this Halloween, is available at the FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) website.
Reference
1FARE poll data: In August 2024, FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) led an informal opinion poll to learn more about the food allergy community’s experience of Halloween and trick-or-treating. Using email and social media channels, general public feedback was solicited. Approximately 400 responses were received over the course of five days. The majority of respondents represented individuals with food allergies or caregivers of children with food allergies.
