Teal Pumpkin Project Seeks To Include Kids With Food Allergies
BEVERLY HILLS (CBSLA.com) — Teal is the new orange for kids with food allergies this Halloween.
Moms like Susan Lynch of Beverly Hills are joining the Teal Pumpkin Project by painting a pumpkin teal or posting a picture of a teal pumpkin near their doors to signal to trick-or-treaters that they are offering stickers or toys instead of candy.
"Sometimes, they're giving out like Reese's peanut butter cups, and I can't have those, " said 11-year-old Allie Lynch, who has a severe allergy to peanuts.
Individually wrapped candy doesn't always list all the ingredients, pediatric allergist Robert Eitches said.
"I've had patients who have had severe reactions from a candy that did not have tree nuts, were told did not have tree nuts or peanuts, that did," Eitches said.
The Teal Pumpkin Project is being promoted by the Food Allergy Research & Education or FARE, which is quick to point out they are not anti-candy; rather, they ask that sweet treats be put in a separate bowl.