What Do Teal Pumpkins and Blue Buckets Mean for Trick or Treaters on Halloween? [Video]

Colored pumpkins during Halloween have certain meanings that can make the holiday more inclusive.

Teal pumpkins are related to the food allergy community, and blue pumpkins are sometimes used by children with autism.

Thanks to the Teal Pumpkin Project, spearheaded by the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), teal pumpkins are used to identify homes offering non-food treats for trick-or-treaters with food allergies or other conditions.

“No child should ever be excluded from a celebration because of a disease. Food allergies are a disease of the immune system — not a diet — not a choice,” Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE, tells PEOPLE. “We are grateful that Teal Pumpkin Project, which was created by one food allergy mom working to provide an inclusive experience for her child and other children with food allergies, is now a national initiative.”

“Food allergies are a silent epidemic affecting more than 33 …