“Teal is the new orange.”

That’s what the cover photo says on Teal Pumpkin Project’s Facebook page.

It’s Halloweentime, and although many of The Press’ coverage areas had trick-or-treat night a few days ago, some boroughs and townships hold the annual Halloween event Oct. 31. If you haven’t yet purchased your goodies to give out to community children, you might want to add some nonfood items, too, if you don’t already have them.

Has your child or grandchild rang the doorbell of a house with a teal pumpkin on display during trick-or-treat night? Or, do you yourself put out a teal pumpkin decoration?

In an Oct. 23, 2016, USA Today article titled “Why you may be seeing a lot of teal pumpkins this Halloween,” writer Kim Painter says, “Back in 2012, a Tennessee mom named Becky Basalone had an idea: What if Halloween could be made a little less tricky for kids with food allergies?”

That simple question led to the Teal Pumpkin Project.

The article continues: “Food Allergy Research & Education, a nonprofit advocacy group, first promoted the idea nationwide in 2014, with the help of a viral Facebook post, says Nancy Gregory, senior director of communications. In 2015, about 1 million people visited the group’s website to get information, and about 10,000 of them, probably a fraction of participants, put their home on an interactive map showing teal pumpkin sites, she says.”

To view the interactive map, visit foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project/map. On this site, you can also add your address as a Teal Pumpkin Project location.

FARE says, “Although nearly any food can trigger an allergic reaction, there are eight common foods that cause the majority of reactions.”

Milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame are some of the most common food triggers.

According to Taste of Home’s article titled “If you see a teal pumpkin on Halloween, this is what is means,” writer Susan Bronson states food allergies are increasing.

“The incidence of food allergies is on the rise. According to FARE, one in 13 children has a food allergy. Even tiny amounts of allergens can cause serious, if not life-threatening, reactions in those affected by food allergies,” she writes.

“Participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project allows children who are affected by food allergies to still participate in Halloween trick-or-treating activities and not feel left out from the festivities,” Bronson continues.

Some nonfood items to include with candy are glow sticks, bracelets, necklaces, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, bubbles, erasers, Slinkies, whistles, kazoos, bouncy balls, finger puppets, Halloween-themed toys, playing cards, bookmarks, stickers and stencils.

If you buy both candy/chocolate and nonfood items, just make sure to use two bowls and separate food from nonfood.

Target is just one of many stores that sells teal pumpkins. Target also has teal buckets for sale for children to take trick-or-treating.

Or better yet - have you gone to a local farm for pumpkin picking with your kids? Make painting a pumpkin teal a fun project to do together!

You can also print an official Teal Pumpkin Project sign to display here: foodallergy.org/sites/default/files/2017-08/TPP-Yard-Sign-Download.pdf.

To learn more about the Teal Pumpkin Project, visit foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project.

I hope everyone had/has an enjoyable and safe trick-or-treat night. Happy Halloween!

Stacey Koch

editorial assistant

Whitehall-Coplay Press

Northampton Press

Catasauqua Press