Halloween is approaching, which means kids will have increased access to candy laden with nuts and dairy products. Awareness about food allergies has been increasing in recent years, with gluten- and dairy-free trends shedding light on both food intolerances and food allergies.

Among U.S. children, the prevalence of food allergies is reported to be between 5-8%, depending on the source and methodology of a particular study. And incidences of child food allergies have been on the rise in recent decades; some argue this is due to avoidance of common allergens early in a child’s life.

The most common food allergies reported in one 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics study were peanut, milk and shellfish, followed by tree nut.

How you approach Halloween may depend on the severity of the allergy and the age of your child, but there are ways to ensure kids have fun and stay safe.

“Sometimes, parents will have to be more aware and alert,” said Russell Traister, a pediatric allergy/immunology specialist at Allegheny Health Network’s Pediatric Institute. This may involve letting the child still collect whatever candy they want throughout a night of trick-or-treating, then checking labels and separating safe candy out once the family returns home.

Other parents may not want that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup anywhere near their kid with a peanut allergy and instead opt for non-food options for Halloween fun.

Color-coordinating

Distinguishing colors is one way to signal to both parents and children that allergy-friendly goodies are available.

Community bakeries have been uptaking this strategy when providing allergy-friendly sweets this Halloween. Bella Christie’s Sweet Boutique, with locations in McCandless and Aspinwall, offers Halloween “treat boxes” of various baked goods that are customizable to accommodate for food allergies, including dairy, nut and gluten.

“One great way for parents to keep track of allergy-accommodated baked goods is to have items such as cupcakes packaged with a different color cupcake liner,” said Bella Christie marketing manager Tori Putman. “For example, our gluten-free cupcakes that we keep in store at all times are lined in a brown cupcake liner, where our traditional cupcakes are in a gold cupcake liner.”

Provide options

If it’s financially feasible, families that see regular trick-or-treaters can buy multiple candy types to set out so that kids with allergies can still enjoy sweets. Candies such as Airheads, Twizzlers, Smarties and Dum Dum lollipops are considered vegan, and Sour Patch, Skittles and Starburst are nut-free.

“It’s reasonable for families to diversify what they offer,” said Traister. It’s also important for parents to educate older kiddos on what is safe for them to eat, he said, which also promotes independence and agency. “If you are reaching into a bowl, try to grab something you know you can eat.”

Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project encourages families to offer a teal-colored pumpkin or pumpkin basket containing non-food Halloween items. It began in Tennessee about a decade ago and has since been adopted nationwide. CVS pharmacies has partnered with the group Food Allergy Research and Education (aka FARE, which helped bring national attention to TPP in 2014) to offer teal pumpkins as well as non-food items for purchase for parents to include along their treat options.

“The more popular Halloween candies contain the most common allergens … but you can be allergic to anything,” said Tiffany Leon, the assistant director of training and professional programs at FARE. Other food allergies include Red No. 40, a popular dye in candies, as well as sesame and sesame oil, which is an ingredient in candy corn. “This takes the guesswork out of Halloween and gives the kids something they know they can have,” she said.

In recent years, Leon has given out funky glasses, headbands, slap bracelets, plastic spider rings and glowsticks as Halloween goodies, and she says these items have been a hit among trick-or-treaters.

A teal pumpkin on a front stoop indicates a home that gives out non-food items on Halloween.

Pharmacy participation

The Halloween allergy-friendly movement has not stayed limited to single households: 392 CVS locations across Pennsylvania are participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project this year. FARE has an interactive map that lists participating locations by ZIP code.

Place a teal pumpkin on your front stoop to indicate that you have non-food options available for Halloweeners.

“If you’re not sure what to get, [retail pharmacies] are making it affordable to participate,” said Leon. According to its website, Target is also a Teal Pumpkin Project participant.

And unlike that monstrous pile of candy on your living room floor at the end of the night, food allergies won’t disappear on Nov. 1. It’s important that families with kids who have allergies have a food allergy action plan and know how to respond in an emergency, said Traister.

And maybe you’re one of the 16 million American adults, or 6.2%, with a diagnosed food allergy in 2021, according to a report by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Food is central to celebrations throughout the holiday season, and these suggestions can be applied to multiple holidays that offer food, no matter your age.

“If there’s just one way to make these holidays safer and more inclusive, I’d suggest it,” said Leon. “It’s very easy to participate.”

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