Here’s What It Means When We See a Teal Pumpkin During Halloween

For many kids, Halloween is a fun time. But for those with special dietary needs and food allergies, it’s just disappointing. For their own safety, they can’t consume a lot of the loot they plundered from various houses. That’s what makes the Teal Pumpkin Project so exciting.

Candy & non-food treats ready! #TealPumpkinProject https://t.co/MbQEsE5sSi pic.twitter.com/9BVLAbhpHQ

— Angela Marti (@AngelaMarti9) October 29, 2014

Participants in this nationwide campaign buy candy along with non-food goodies, like stickers, bracelets, temporary tattoos, pencils, erasers, bouncy balls…just about any little prize you might find in an arcade for 1 to 20 tickets. Then they buy a pumpkin or two (or ten) and give it a coat of teal paint. So parents of kids with special food allergies know that the participant’s door is a safe one to knock on.

What we can learn from the #TealPumpkinProject‘s successful #awareness campaign? @inc shares: https://bit.ly1zPoX5J pic.twitter.com/fbQ914G3Dd

— Doukas Media (@DoukasMedia) October 31, 2014

The idea was actually created last year by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE). Thanks to their brilliant idea, many kids (and parents!) can have a safer, happier, more fun Halloween.

What do you think? Are you going to put out a teal pumpkin this year?