Teal is the new orange, according to a national organization dedicated to helping kids with food allergies enjoy the holidays.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) created the Teal Pumpkin Project to let kids with candy allergies know on Halloween whether or not the house they are trick-or-treating at has candy that will work for them.
Families that would like to participate paint pumpkins teal to represent food allergy awareness and place them on their doorstep.
According to FARE, 1 in every 13 children suffers from a food allergy and that number is only increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2013 that "food allergies among children increased approximately 50 percent between 1997 and 2011."
The main culprits are peanuts, milk, eggs and tree nuts, among others, according to FARE. Allergic reactions range from an itchy mouth to a potentially deadly trip to the emergency room.
Having a food allergy can put a damper on Halloween for many kids, and for parents of those kids who have allergies. One mom told USA Today about her daughter's difficult experience collecting candy on Halloween.
Before the Teal Pumpkin Project, we would go trick-or-treating, she would get candy and there wasnt really anything she could keep, Michelle Oganov told USA Today.
She recalls that time, telling the outlet "it was painful for her." The Teal Pumpkin Project now helps to make the holiday easier for her family.
For some ideas on how to decorate your teal pumpkin, check out this list by the DIY Network, then watch the video below to learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, what it does and how it helps kids with allergies not feel left out.
Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) created the Teal Pumpkin Project to let kids with candy allergies know on Halloween whether or not the house they are trick-or-treating at has candy that will work for them.
Families that would like to participate paint pumpkins teal to represent food allergy awareness and place them on their doorstep.
According to FARE, 1 in every 13 children suffers from a food allergy and that number is only increasing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2013 that "food allergies among children increased approximately 50 percent between 1997 and 2011."
The main culprits are peanuts, milk, eggs and tree nuts, among others, according to FARE. Allergic reactions range from an itchy mouth to a potentially deadly trip to the emergency room.
Having a food allergy can put a damper on Halloween for many kids, and for parents of those kids who have allergies. One mom told USA Today about her daughter's difficult experience collecting candy on Halloween.
Before the Teal Pumpkin Project, we would go trick-or-treating, she would get candy and there wasnt really anything she could keep, Michelle Oganov told USA Today.
She recalls that time, telling the outlet "it was painful for her." The Teal Pumpkin Project now helps to make the holiday easier for her family.
For some ideas on how to decorate your teal pumpkin, check out this list by the DIY Network, then watch the video below to learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, what it does and how it helps kids with allergies not feel left out.
