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See a Teal Pumpkin This Halloween? Here’s What That Means!

Monday, October 21, 2019

Halloween is a time most kids look forward to. After all, those who participate in trick or treating not only get to wear super cool costumes, but they also get loads of delicious candy by the end of the night.

“For some children, trick or treating is a complicated, stressful night navigating the terrors of food allergies as they visit from door to door,” SouthCoast Health Family Medicine Physician Dr. Rebecca Mashburn Sellers stated. “FARE, the Food Allergy Research and Education program, created the Teal Pumpkin Project to make the lives of those who have food allergies easier on Halloween night.”

If you or someone you love has a child with allergies hoping to trick or treat in the Savannah area, keep reading below to learn more about this awesome initiative.

What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

As mentioned above, those with allergies can have a harder time enjoying trick-or-treating. The Teal Pumpkin Project was designed to allow children nationwide the chance to participate without worries. By providing information and promoting food allergy issues, the Teal Pumpkin Project spends their time educating everyone across the nation on how to get allergy-safe options for Halloween.

The face of their project is the teal pumpkin. Combining the color of food allergy awareness, teal, with one of the most popular decorations of Halloween, the pumpkin, allows those with food allergies to spot a safe house for them to visit during trick or treating.

If you would like to have a house that is allergy-safe during the Halloween season, then grab a teal pumpkin and pick up something for those kids to enjoy. Options include toys that aren’t made using allergies, like something you can pick up from the dollar store. Of course, candy options without common allergens like peanuts, dairy, and wheat are also great. It’s important to include a variety so that you truly can cater to every single allergy possible.

What You Can Do to Participate

If you want to participate in the teal pumpkin project, here’s what you can do to help!

  • Collect allergy-safe related items and candy to pass out to those with allergies during Halloween.
  • Place a teal pumpkin outside your door to let other people know that you have allergy-friendly treats. Or, if you don’t have a way to get a teal pumpkin, visit the Teal Pumpkin Project website to print a sign for your door
  • See if you can get your neighbors to join in on the fun as well. The more people passing out allergy-friendly options, the better.
  • Go a step further and add your house to the Teal Pumpkin Project map. This will let parents know ahead of time which houses they can take their children to, saving everyone time and effort. Currently, only a few houses are set up in the Savannah, GA area. Let’s work together to fix that!
  • Fundraise for the Teal Pumpkin Project. Create bake sales, make teal pumpkins to sell to other people, or start a donation drive. Whatever you do, helping to raise money for this initiative will go a long way.

SouthCoast Health is proud to cater to those in our community that have food allergies. If you would like to speak to our expert allergist or pediatrician on food allergies during Halloween, click here to schedule an appointment with us.


Whether you are looking for a primary care doctor or a pediatrician, or another medical specialist, SouthCoast Health has you covered with its wide range of world-class healthcare services, available throughout the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry. SouthCoast Health has 120 physicians and medical professionals in 18 locations in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Rincon, Baxley, Hilton Head, Hinesville, and Statesboro. SouthCoast Health offers comprehensive medical services including: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Allergy and Asthma, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Eye Care, Imaging, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Neurology, Physical Therapy, Podiatry, Sleep Medicine, Surgery, Clinical Trial Research Studies, Diabetic Self-Management Training Sessions, Dietetic Counseling, Laboratory Services, Massage Therapy, Optical Shop, Pharmacy, and Urgent Care.

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