Sticky Notes - Halloween and Food Allergies
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Halloween and Food Allergies

October 22, 2021 by Emily Moore

You WALNUT believe! The scariest thing about Halloween is...   food allergies!

Halloween and Food Allergies 

Do you know that roughly one in 13 kids in the US has a food allergy? [1] And that some of the most popular Halloween candy contains some of the most common food allergens (eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat)? For some kids, even a tiny bit of the allergen has the potential to cause a severe reaction. All of which can make Halloween, well, tricky and scary in all the wrong ways. Here are a few simple moves to help ensure that kids with food allergies and intolerances can enjoy a safe and fun Halloween:

 

Offer Allergy-friendly Options

Don’t worry, there are LOTS of candies to choose from. My family goes straight for Swedish Fish, Starbursts, or Sour Patch Kids, but you can find your own favorites on this Allergy-Friendly Halloween Candy Guide

And, ok, I’m going to go out on a limb here… why limit yourself to candy? Fresh, sweet, juicy clementines are newly in season in late October and they are surprisingly popular with young trick-or-treaters (I swear!). 

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Offer (Non-food) Trinkets

Guess what: you don’t have to hand out food at all! Stickers, temporary tattoos, stencils, vampire fangs, bubbles are all fun alternatives. There are loads more ideas to choose from on this list. Just be sure to reduce the risk of cross-contamination by placing non-food items in a separate bowl.

 

Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project

The Teal Pumpkin Project began in 2014 to raise awareness about food allergies and to make Halloween more inclusive – and fun! – for kids with allergies. To participate, just place a teal pumpkin on your porch to signal to trick-or-treaters that you’ve got non-food options to share. No porch? No problem! You can download a flyer or make your own sign and display it on your door or window. 

 

Now go be safe, have fun, and keep taking care of other people!

HaPPyHAllOwEEN!

THYME for a laugh!
  • What kind of Halloween candy is never on time? ChocoLATE
  • What do you get when you cross candy corn and a cow? Corned Beef.
  • Which Halloween candy smells bad? Footsie Rolls.
  • What do you get when you dip a kitten in chocolate? A Kitty Kat bar

 


 

[1] https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/facts-and-statistics

 

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