For most children, Halloween is a night filled with costumes, neighborhood adventures and the excitement of dumping a bucket of candy onto the kitchen table at the end of the night.
For families managing food allergies, Halloween can feel very different.
Parents may find themselves checking every ingredient label, worrying about cross-contact, reminding young children not to eat candy before it has been checked and making sure emergency medication is close at hand. A treat that seems harmless to one family may contain an allergen that could cause a serious reaction in another child.
The Teal Pumpkin Project® is helping communities change that experience.
By placing a teal pumpkin outside your home and offering non-food treats, you can send a simple message to families walking through your neighborhood:
There is something here for your child, too.
At AIR Care, MD in Dallas and Plano, we believe food allergy awareness isn’t only about avoiding allergens. It’s also about helping children safely participate in the experiences that make childhood special.
And Halloween is a wonderful place to start.
What Is the Teal Pumpkin Project?
The Teal Pumpkin Project® is an international food allergy awareness initiative led by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).
The concept is simple:
Place a teal pumpkin outside your home to let trick-or-treaters know that you have non-food treats available.
Instead of—or in addition to—traditional Halloween candy, participating homes might offer small toys, glow sticks, stickers, pencils or other non-food surprises.
The goal isn’t to eliminate Halloween candy.
It’s to give children who cannot safely eat certain foods another way to participate in trick-or-treating.
A teal pumpkin essentially becomes a beacon for families managing food allergies and other conditions that may make traditional Halloween candy difficult or unsafe.
How Did the Teal Pumpkin Project Start?
What has become a widespread Halloween tradition began as a local food allergy awareness effort.
The idea originated with the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee (FACET) and inspired FARE to launch the Teal Pumpkin Project nationally in 2014.
From there, teal pumpkins began appearing on porches across the United States and eventually around the world.
The movement has grown significantly. In 2024, FARE reported more than 12,500 locations and 91 events on its Teal Pumpkin Project map, representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Participation was also reported in 13 countries outside the United States.
What began as a simple idea has become a recognizable symbol of inclusion for families managing food allergies.
Why the Teal Pumpkin Project Matters to Families With Food Allergies
Food allergies are not simply a dietary preference.
A food allergy occurs when the body’s immune system reacts to a food as though it were harmful. Reactions can range in severity, and serious allergic reactions can become life-threatening.
According to 2024 National Health Interview Survey data published by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 5.3% of U.S. children ages 0–17 had a diagnosed food allergy.
That means there are children in communities throughout North Texas who may approach Halloween differently because of food allergies.
Imagine being six years old and walking from house to house with your friends.
Everyone reaches into the same candy bowl.
Your friends immediately start talking about which candy they got.
But you’re learning that you can’t eat anything until a parent reads the label.
Or perhaps you already know that much of what’s being handed out isn’t safe for you.
That’s why something as simple as a bowl of stickers or glow sticks can matter.
It allows a child to participate without having to be singled out because of an allergy.
What Does a Teal Pumpkin Mean on Halloween?
When you see a teal pumpkin displayed outside a house, it generally means that the household is participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project and has non-food treats available for trick-or-treaters.
The pumpkin can be real or artificial.
You can paint a pumpkin teal, purchase a reusable teal pumpkin or display one of FARE’s printable Teal Pumpkin Project signs.
The important part is having non-food treats available for children who need them.
What Should You Give Out for the Teal Pumpkin Project?
You don’t need anything elaborate.
Some fun non-food Halloween treats include:
- Glow sticks or glow bracelets
- Stickers
- Pencils
- Erasers
- Temporary tattoos
- Spider rings
- Small Halloween toys
- Bubbles
- Mini activity books
- Stamps
- Small fidget toys
- Bookmarks
FARE notes that even non-food items should be chosen carefully. Some products that don’t look like food can still contain allergens—for example, certain moldable clays may contain wheat. Latex products can also pose a problem for children with latex allergies.
When possible, choose simple, latex-free items that don’t contain common food allergens.
Can You Still Hand Out Candy If You Have a Teal Pumpkin?
Absolutely.
Participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project does not mean your house has to become candy-free.
You can have one bowl of traditional Halloween candy and another bowl containing non-food treats.
In fact, this makes participation incredibly easy for families who still want to hand out their favorite Halloween candy.
However, keep the food and non-food treats in separate containers.
This can help reduce the chance of food residue getting onto the non-food items and gives families a clearly separate option.
When a child approaches, you can simply ask:
“Would you like candy or a non-food treat?”
No explanation is required.
The child gets to choose just like everyone else.
Why Halloween Can Be Particularly Difficult for Food Allergy Families
Food allergy management doesn’t disappear because it’s a holiday.
In many ways, Halloween can introduce additional challenges.
Candy may come in miniature or seasonal packaging. Ingredient formulations can differ from full-size versions, and packaging may not always look exactly like what families normally purchase.
That’s why parents of children with food allergies may spend Halloween night sorting through candy, reading labels and determining which treats are safe.
FARE recommends that families managing food allergies read labels every time rather than assuming a candy is safe because a child has eaten a similar product before.
For children who have been prescribed epinephrine, families should also continue carrying it while trick-or-treating.
Halloween should be fun—but food allergy precautions still matter.
The Teal Pumpkin Project Is About More Than Food Allergies
One of the most wonderful parts of the Teal Pumpkin Project is that its impact extends beyond children with food allergies.
Non-food treats can also provide an option for children who cannot eat traditional candy because of other medical conditions or dietary restrictions.
And there is another benefit that’s easy to overlook:
Kids simply like toys.
A glow stick, spider ring or temporary tattoo can be exciting whether or not a child has a food allergy.
That means you don’t have to determine which children “need” the alternative.
Just offer the choice.
The result is a Halloween experience that feels less like accommodation and more like inclusion.
How North Texas Families Can Participate
Participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project doesn’t require a large investment or complicated preparation.
Before Halloween:
- Purchase a few packages of inexpensive non-food treats.
- Paint or purchase a teal pumpkin—or print a Teal Pumpkin Project sign.
- Keep non-food items separate from candy.
- Place your teal pumpkin somewhere visible from the street.
- Tell your neighbors what the teal pumpkin means.
- Share the idea with your school, church, neighborhood group or trunk-or-treat event.
One household participating is meaningful.
An entire Dallas or Plano neighborhood participating can completely change the trick-or-treating experience for local families managing food allergies.
Food Allergy Care Is About More Than Avoidance
For parents, receiving a food allergy diagnosis can bring a long list of new questions.
What foods need to be avoided?
How carefully should labels be checked?
Could cross-contact cause a reaction?
What symptoms should we watch for?
When should epinephrine be used?
What should teachers, grandparents, babysitters and coaches know?
How do we help our child stay safe without making them afraid of food?
And how do we navigate birthdays, school parties, restaurants, vacations—and Halloween?
Those questions are exactly why having an experienced allergy and immunology care team matters.
Food allergy care isn’t simply about identifying a food a child shouldn’t eat. It’s also about helping families understand the diagnosis, recognize potential reactions and develop practical strategies for everyday life.
At AIR Care, MD, our allergy specialists work with patients and families throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area to evaluate and manage food allergies as part of comprehensive allergy and immunology care.
When Should You See an Allergist About a Possible Food Allergy?
If you suspect that your child—or you—may have a food allergy, it’s important not to rely solely on internet searches or eliminate large groups of foods without appropriate medical guidance.
Symptoms associated with food allergic reactions can vary and may involve the skin, gastrointestinal system, respiratory system or cardiovascular system.
An allergist can review the history of the suspected reaction and determine whether allergy testing or additional evaluation may be appropriate.
This is particularly important when a family is unsure whether a previous reaction was caused by a true food allergy.
The goal is not simply to create a longer list of foods to avoid.
The goal is to better understand what is actually happening and how to manage it safely.
A Teal Pumpkin Is a Small Gesture With a Big Message
For one family, painting a pumpkin teal may take 15 minutes.
Picking up a bag of glow sticks might add a few dollars to the Halloween shopping list.
But imagine what that teal pumpkin looks like to a parent walking down the sidewalk with a child who has a food allergy.
It means they don’t have to explain.
Their child doesn’t have to be different.
There is already something waiting for them.
That is the heart of the Teal Pumpkin Project.
It’s not really about pumpkins.
It’s about making room for another child at the celebration.
This Halloween, AIR Care, MD encourages families throughout Dallas, Plano and the greater DFW community to put out a teal pumpkin and help make Halloween safer, easier and more inclusive for children managing food allergies.
One pumpkin.
One bowl of non-food treats.
One more house where every child gets to participate.
Food Allergy Care in Dallas & Plano
If you have questions about possible food allergies, food allergy testing or managing an existing food allergy diagnosis, the allergy and immunology team at AIR Care, MD is here to help.
With locations in Dallas and Plano, Texas, AIR Care, MD provides specialized allergy, asthma and immunology care for children and adults throughout North Texas.
Currently accepting new patients. Contact AIR Care, MD to schedule an appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Teal Pumpkin Project
What does a teal pumpkin mean on Halloween?
A teal pumpkin indicates that a home or participating location has non-food treats available for trick-or-treaters. The Teal Pumpkin Project was created to make Halloween more inclusive for children with food allergies and others who may not be able to eat traditional candy.
Is the Teal Pumpkin Project only for children with peanut allergies?
No. The project is intended to provide an alternative for children managing many different food allergies and other conditions or dietary restrictions that may make traditional Halloween candy unsuitable.
Do I have to stop giving out candy to participate?
No. You can give out both candy and non-food treats. Keep them in separate containers and allow children to choose which option they would like.
What are good non-food Halloween treats for children with allergies?
Glow sticks, stickers, pencils, temporary tattoos, spider rings, bubbles and small toys are popular options. Remember that some non-food products can still contain allergens, so choose items carefully.
Why is the Teal Pumpkin Project important for children with food allergies?
Halloween often centers around food, which can make participation more complicated for children with food allergies. Offering a non-food option allows more children to participate in trick-or-treating alongside their friends.
Who started the Teal Pumpkin Project?
The movement was inspired by a local food allergy awareness activity from the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee. Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) launched the Teal Pumpkin Project as a national campaign in 2014.
Can businesses, schools and churches participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project?
Yes. Homes aren’t the only places that can participate. Schools, churches, businesses, community organizations and trunk-or-treat events can offer non-food treats and display teal pumpkin signage to indicate that alternatives are available.