Teal pumpkins will signal a safe Halloween stop for kids with food allergies

Little ghouls and goblins are preparing to hit the neighborhoods in just two weeks, trick-or-treat bags at the ready. But for children with food allergies, Halloween can be a depressing — not to mention dangerous — time. Imagine showing up at house after house, only to have to pass on candy made with peanuts, or milk, or other common allergens. Now that's a scary thought.
So, a family in Tennessee began painting a pumpkin on their front porch teal — the color of food-allergy awareness — to signal to other trick-or-treaters that it was a safe stop.
"It was a great way to reach out to our neighbors," Becky Basalone told the Chicago Tribune. And, "it empowered my children, who were so willing to explain to people why we had a teal pumpkin."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The practice has since picked up steam across the nation; a Virginia-based group, Food Allergy Research & Education, is promoting it as The Teal Pumpkin Project. Families who plan to participate say they will hand out alternative goodies such as spider rings, stickers, or temporary tattoos.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Sarah Eberspacher is an associate editor at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked as a sports reporter at The Livingston County Daily Press & Argus and The Arizona Republic. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.
-
The secrets of a 2,000-year-old burnt scroll
Under The Radar Researchers used artificial intelligence to 'virtually unwrap' ancient document
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - February 14, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - February 14, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - February 14, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - February 14, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published