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Teal Pumpkin Project Raises Awareness For Food Allergies

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) - Pittsburgh-area residents are encouraged to buy teal pumpkins and non-food items for trick-or-treaters.

Teal pumpkins are not a Halloween tradition, but then again, neither is the number of kids with food allergies.

The Center for Disease Control reports that from 1997 to 2011, the prevalence of food and skin allergies increased among children under 18 years old.

"One in 13 kids have food allergies," says Nancy Gregory, Senior Director of Communications at Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).

FARE adopted the idea for the "Teal Pumpkin Project" from a Tennessee woman in 2014. Since then, the New York based non-profit organization has developed a section on its website with ideas for non-food items, downloadable signs to display at people's homes, and an interactive map that shows all the homes in the world participating.

"This is only our third year, and we've seen participation growing," says Gregory. "Last year, we had about 10,000 people put their names on the map…as of this weekend, we have about 15,000 people."

Participants are encouraged to put out a teal pumpkin. Gregory says teal is the widely observed color for food allergy awareness.

Teal pumpkins are available at some drug stores and craft stores, but Gregory says painting a pumpkin can be a family activity and learning experience.

"I think that serves as an educational activity to teach your kids about the severity of food allergies, and talk to them a little bit about themes of empathy," says Gregory, adding that if you don't have a teal pumpkin, you can also hang a sign.

The "Crowd-Sourced Fever Map" can be found here.

Anybody who chooses to participate can add their address, and if they choose, their names.

The United States Food & Drug Administration lists the eight major food allergens as milk, eggs, fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod), crustacean shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp), tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans), peanuts, wheat and soybeans.

Dr. Todd Green, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, and Allergist at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, tells KDKA's James Garrity that handing out non-food items is the best way to ensure that all children feel included while trick-or-treating.

"I don't think there's anything that's a sure-fire guarantee for everybody, because [kids] can be allergic to anything," says Dr. Green. "One thing families can do is put out a few options, so the kids allergic to milk can choose one thing and the kids allergic to peanuts can choose something else."

FARE suggests handing out items like glow sticks, bubbles, whistles, bouncy balls, and stickers.

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