New research shows that thousands of children in the U.S. have avoided dangerous peanut allergies thanks to early feeding recommendations. About 60,000 kids have been protected since guidelines changed in 2015, according to a study published in Pediatrics and reported by the Associated Press.
“That’s a remarkable thing, right?” said Dr. David Hill, an allergist and researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who led the study. There are fewer kids with food allergy today than there would have been if we hadn’t implemented this public health effort, Hill explained to the AP.
Peanut Allergy Rates Declined After Guidelines Changed
As reported by AP, researchers reviewed health records from dozens of pediatric practices and found peanut allergy cases in children under age 3 dropped by 27% after 2015 guidance for high-risk infants. Rates fell by more than 40% after 2017, when the recommendations expanded to all children.
Still, food allergies overall remain on the rise. Roughly 8% of U.S. kids are affected, including more than 2% with peanut allergies, AP noted.
Why Doctors Now Advise Early Peanut Introduction
For decades, parents were told to delay allergenic foods until age 3. That changed after the 2015 LEAP trial, led by Dr. Gideon Lack at King’s College London, showed introducing peanut products in infancy reduced future risk by more than 80%. Follow-up analysis found the protection persisted into adolescence.
What Parents Should Know About Feeding Babies Peanuts
According to AP, updated guidelines now recommend introducing peanuts and other allergens between 4 and 6 months of age, without prior screening. “It doesn’t have to be a lot,” Hill told AP. Small tastes of peanut butter, yogurt, or soy-based foods are safe ways to expose the immune system, Hill said.
