Teal pumpkins popping up in Vermont neighborhoods

(WCAX)
Published: Oct. 13, 2018 at 8:24 AM EDT
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In a little more than two weeks, children around the country will be trick-or-treating.

Halloween is tough for a kid like Ollie who has severe food allergies. He has anaphylactic reactions to several foods including peanuts, milk and eggs.

There's a colorful solution, so those with severe food allergies don't feel left out. It's called the teal pumpkin project.

Paint a pumpkin teal and display it outside your home on Halloween to let parents know there's a treat available that's not food. It could anything like stickers, crayons or bubbles.

This was started by a woman in Tennessee, before Food Allergy Research and Education took the idea nationally four years ago.

If you want to participate in the teal pumpkin project, not only should you display the teal pumpkin, but you should also keep the candy and the non-food items in separate bowls.

Just because something is labeled, "free from..." still doesn't mean the food is suitable for everyone.

Make sure you ask the kids if they have any allergies before handing out the candy. Some little ones may not bring it up.

If you can't pain a pumpkin teal, there are signs that you can download for free.