People are painting their Halloween pumpkins teal - and it could actually save a child's life

While you might not realize it, for many kids and parents, Halloween night can be terrifying, and not just because of the witches and ghosts running amok. 

For kids with severe allergies to foods like nuts, milk, or eggs, which are all common in candy, trick-or-treating can be risky and even deadly, News 10 reports. 

That's why people are painting their pumpkins teal as part of a Food Allergy Research & Education initiative to help kids with dietary restrictions have a safe and fun Halloween. 

Since many of the mini versions of popular candies do not have ingredient labels, News 10 also reports, it can be almost impossible for parents to be sure the candy is safe for their children to eat. 

Placing a teal pumpkin in front of your house indicated that you'll have  goodies, such as stickers or glow-sticks, that will be totally safe for those kids who can't eat most Halloween candy.

The Teal Pumpkin Project was launched last year and reached 50 states and seven countries, FARE reports. This year, they hope to reach over 100,000 homes. Based on a quick Instagram search for the hashtag #TealPumpkinProject, it looks like things are off to a great start. It's only Oct. 2, but people are already excitedly posting pictures of their teal pumpkins in preparation for the holiday at the end of the month.

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