BY STEPHANIE Sorkin
Roslyn@antonmediagroup.com
I can vividly remember the excitement of Halloween as a child. The chill in the air. The colorful decorations. The costumes. Most of all, I remember the tradition of trick or treating, getting as much candy as humanly possible, while eating tons of it on the way. I remember proudly pouring my loot onto the floor into what resembled a mountain, then separating it into groups of chocolate and non-chocolate. Lastly, I’d trade the undesirables with my brother. While I vaguely remember hearing something about apples and razor blades, I had no fear whatsoever of eating the candy.
Unfortunately, for millions of parents Nationwide, holidays like Halloween are potential minefields for their food allergic children. With allergens present in the majority of the candy and poor labeling on fun sized treats, it’s a recipe for disaster.
As a food allergy parent myself, I was thrilled to hear about a National Campaign called the Teal Pumpkin Project, the brainchild of Becky Basalone, then later trademarked by F.A.R.E., an organization dedicated to Food Allergy Research and Education. This campaign encourages parents to offer non-food treats so that all children can enjoy Halloween safely. Participating is easy and does not require a huge financial commitment. Simply paint a pumpkin teal blue and display it where trick-or-treaters and parents can see it. Posters with “Non-food treats available here” are free on F.A.R.E.’s website www.foodallergy.org
Non-candy treats such as pens, pencils, erasers, bubbles and small bouncy balls can be found at your local drug store, dollar store and supermarket. Be mindful that even non-food treats can contain allergens, for example, playdough contains wheat and bouncy balls often contain latex.
According to the Center for Disease Control, food allergies have risen 50 percent from 1997 – 2011. With approximately 1 in 13 children affected, chances are you’ll see dozens are children with allergies. Families managing other conditions, such as celiac, diabetes, ADHD and Autism, where candy is an issue, are also lending their support. In addition, many parents welcome the idea of limiting candy and appreciate the teal pumpkin as a signal that candy-free options are available at these homes.
The Teal Pumpkin Project does not suggest that we do away with candy altogether. The idea is not to change the tradition of handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, but instead to incorporate a new tradition of having non-food treats available.
Some may argue that there are many candy items (Dum Dums, Smarties, Mike and Ikes) free from the top 8 most common allergens (dairy, eggs, nuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shell-fish) so why not just hand those out? Supporters of the Teal Pumpkin Project know that the non-candy items will only add to the fun. Creating new traditions is what childhood is all about. Let’s enjoy a fun, safe Halloween, filled with traditions old and new.
(Roslyn resident Stephanie Sorkin is the award winning author of Nutley, the Nut-free Squirrel, Chocolate Shoes with Licorice Laces and Frenemy Jane, the Sometimes Friend. As a food allergy advocate, Sorokin spends her time visiting local schools discussing the importance of creativity. For more information or to inquire about a school visit, go to www.stephaniesorkin.com. You can follow her on social media @stephsorkin.)
