CT Family Urges Neighbors to Hand Out Veggies, Not Candy for Halloween

Vegetables for Halloween? That's what one Connecticut family is telling neighbors to hand out rather than traditional Halloween candy. The bright orange posters have been seen hanging all over one community in New Britain, and they're drawing mixed reactions.

The posters seen near Lincoln Elementary School urge residents to give trick-or-treaters carrots, or treats that have no nuts, gluten or dairy.

“My son has severe allergies and comes home every year devastated that he can’t eat any candy he’s collected at your homes,” the note says. “Don’t exclude my child, or any other child from the fun.”

The parent made some suggestions on what to hand out. Instead of chocolate bars, how about carrot sticks, Smarties, Necco Wafers, Lifesavers, Brach’s lemon drops and raisins – but NOT Raisinettes.

Some of the residents said they appreciate getting a notice that a child has allergies, while others don’t plan to change what they offer.
"I think it's a good idea. It's nice that whoever that family is that they're kind of making the neighborhood aware of their son's allergies," Jennifer Dreher, of New Britain, said.

Another neighbor, Dave Keating, said his family does not plan to change what they will hand out.
“I tend to think that children will not come to a house that is serving broccoli and celery. I think Halloween is an excuse to get away from that. So I think they will favor those that have sugar.”