Halloween is one of the few nights of the year when sweets go to strangers' doors rather than being bought by a parent who already knows what their child can and can't have. That makes it worth thinking about allergens and age-appropriateness slightly differently than you would for a party or a shop shelf.
The Teal Pumpkin Project
Started in the US and now recognised in the UK too, the Teal Pumpkin Project is simple: put a teal pumpkin or sign outside your door and keep a separate bowl of non-food treats — stickers, glow sticks, small toys, plastic spider rings — for any child who can't eat what's on offer. It doesn't replace your sweets, it sits alongside them, and it means a child with a severe allergy doesn't have to skip your house or come away empty-handed.
What to check on the label
The main allergens that come up around Halloween sweets are:
- Gelatine. Most jelly and gummy sweets use it, which rules them out for vegetarians, vegans and anyone avoiding pork or beef gelatine for religious reasons. Vegan gummy pumpkins are a straightforward swap that covers all three at once.
- Milk and soya. Present in most chocolate and some marshmallow lines — check the panel rather than assuming a "fruit" flavoured sweet is dairy-free, as some coatings and glazes contain milk derivatives.
- Nuts and traces of nuts. Less common in gummy sweets but worth checking on anything chocolate-based or made in a shared facility — the packaging will say "may contain" if there's a trace risk.
If you're buying for a bowl that will go to a wide range of children rather than your own, keep the original packaging on hand, or the outer case, so you can check or answer a parent's question on the doorstep if asked.
Choking hazards for younger children
Halloween sweets aimed at older kids and teenagers sometimes come in shapes and textures that aren't right for the under-fours doing the rounds with an older sibling — whole hard lollies, large gummy shapes, and some novelty items are a choking risk for that age group. If you know young children will be calling, choose soft, small gummies over hard sweets or whole lollies, and avoid anything that needs to be bitten through rather than chewed.
A sensible default bowl
If you'd rather not overthink it on the night, a bowl that covers most bases is: a soft individually wrapped gummy as the main item, a small non-food treat alongside it for the Teal Pumpkin option, and nothing that's a whole hard sweet or large lolly. That combination clears gelatine concerns for anyone who takes the non-food option, avoids the worst choking risks, and still feels like a normal Halloween sweet for everyone else.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?
A campaign encouraging households to offer non-food treats alongside sweets, signposted with a teal pumpkin, so trick-or-treaters with allergies aren't left out.
Do Halloween sweets contain nuts?
Not usually in gummy lines, but chocolate and some novelty sweets can carry nut traces — always check the label rather than assume.
Are Halloween sweets safe for young children?
Soft gummies are generally fine; hard boiled sweets and whole lollies are a choking risk for under-fours and are best left out of their bowl.
Browse allergy-friendly options in Halloween Sweets, or see our full Vegan range.