Study Results: Does Early Peanut Exposure Reduce Food Allergy Rates?

A major U.S. study has found that childhood food allergies have declined significantly since guidelines encouraged the early introduction of peanut-containing foods in infants.

Based on the data gathered, researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) estimate that for every 200 infants exposed to food allergens early in life, one case of food allergy development was prevented.

The CHOP study, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, analyzed electronic health records for thousands of U.S. children. It found that the prevalence of peanut allergy dropped from 0.79% to 0.45% (~43% reduction), while overall IgE-mediated food allergies declined from 1.46% to 0.93% (~36% reduction).

How Early-Exposure Guidance Has Evolved

New guidelines were established in 2015 and 2017 recommending the introduction of peanut-containing foods to infants aged between 4 to 6 months old to help prevent the development of an allergy. 

These guidelines focused on using exposure as an intervention strategy for infants who were at a high risk of developing a peanut allergy, including infants with severe eczema, and/or an egg allergy.

Health agencies expanded the recommendations again in 2021 to encourage early introduction of peanut containing foods for all infants, not just those considered high-risk.

In their paper, the CHOP researchers detected decreased rates of peanut or any IgE-FA in children born after the publication of early introduction guidelines compared with those born before, concluding that these results supported the intended effect of these public health recommendations.

“Everyone has been wondering whether these landmark public health interventions have had an impact on reducing rates of IgE-mediated food allergies in the United States, " said Lead author and CHOP allergist, Dr. Stanislaw Gabryszewski. “We now have data that suggest that the effect of this landmark public health intervention is occurring.”

Senior author and fellow CHOP allergist, Dr. David Hill added: “We have shown a reduction in the prevalence of peanut and other IgE-mediated food allergies in young children following the publication of early introduction guidelines” 

He continued: “Future studies could potentially explore specific feeding practices that help us better understand the timing, frequency and dose of foods that optimize protection against food allergies.”

Public Health Impact and Next Steps

It is estimated that the advice to feed babies peanut-containing foods early in life at frequent intervals helped 60,000 children avoid allergies since the introduction of the updated guidelines in 2015. 

Despite the encouraging trend, study authors urge caution, indicating that peanut allergies remain a public health issue, underscoring the need for greater awareness and access to early-introduction guidance.

Although CHOP’s data regarding early exposure demonstrates the power of this kind of preventive measure, it is essential that the food industry upholds a strict approach to allergen management through accurate labeling, dedicated preparation areas, cross-contact prevention, and clear communication with customers.

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