On the evening of October 31st, when thousands of young residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges will be taking to the streets to collect candy, what should we do if we spot a turquoise pumpkin on our route? Do you know what they mean?

If you happen to come across a home featuring this beloved curcurbitaceous plant at this time of year, it's because they're offering non-food treats for children allergic to nuts and other foods.

A poster of this initiative can also be affixed to the front door of the home to inform treat hunters.

Allergies Québec reminds us that this holiday is often a difficult time for children suffering from allergies, as the distribution of potentially allergenic products tends to sideline them from the festivities. Once again this year, parents, neighbors, friends and shopkeepers are invited to participate in large numbers in the 8th edition of the #MaCitrouilleTurquoise initiative, to show them that they're part of the festivities. Launched in the United States in 2014, this initiative already counts on the participation of some fifteen countries.

“Food allergies are a major and growing health problem in Quebec. With up to 8% of young children in Quebec living with food allergies, and an 18% increase in this segment of the population, I think the #MaCitrouilleTurquoise initiative makes perfect sense for Halloween. This activity gives us a great opportunity to raise awareness of this issue among young and old alike,” says Dominique Seigneur, Director of Development and Communications for Allergies Québec.
It's also important to remember that allergies can trigger an anaphylactic reaction at any time, which can be fatal in a matter of minutes. Up to 75% of peanut-allergic people have been accidentally exposed to this allergen. 

In Canada, peanuts, wheat, milk, mustard, tree nuts, eggs, fish and seafood, sesame, soy and sulfites have been defined as the ten priority allergens, as they are responsible for the majority of severe allergic reactions. Over 160 allergenic foods have been identified in Canada.