Recent research indicates that approximately **40,000 children** have avoided diagnoses of peanut allergies due to updated guidelines on introducing this common allergen to infants. This significant decline comes after a pivotal study a decade ago revealed that early exposure to peanut products could reduce the risk of developing allergies by over **80%**. For years, parents were advised to refrain from feeding common allergens, including peanuts, to their infants, but recommendations began to change in **2015**.
In **2017**, guidelines for high-risk children regarding peanut exposure were revised, and these recommendations were broadened two years later. A study published on **March 15, 2024**, in the journal **Pediatrics** found that peanut allergy rates in children under the age of **3** dropped by about **43%** following these expanded guidelines. Furthermore, the overall rates of food allergies decreased by approximately **36%** in the same cohort.
Dr. David Hill, an attending allergist at the **Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia** and senior author of the study, expressed surprise at the scale of the results. He noted, “Even being able to say that allergy rates plateaued would be huge news, but the fact that we actually saw a reduction in the onset of new food allergy in kids under **3** is incredible.”
The research team analyzed electronic health records from nearly **50 pediatric practices**, tracking food allergy diagnoses in about **120,000 children** aged **0 to 3**. The study identified **15 months** as the peak age for peanut allergy onset. A child was classified as newly allergic if they received a diagnosis code for a food allergy and were prescribed an EpiPen.
Notably, the reductions in diagnoses occurred despite only about **29%** of pediatricians and **65%** of allergists reporting adherence to the expanded guidance from **2017**, according to surveys. Confusion regarding the best practices for early peanut introduction contributed to this gap, as highlighted in a commentary accompanying the study.
Sung Poblete, chief executive of the nonprofit **Food Allergy Research and Education**, praised the study for its reliance on real-world data. She emphasized that while the “eat early, eat often” approach for allergenic foods shows success in clinical settings, it is crucial to demonstrate that this can effectively reduce incidence rates in broader populations.
Peanut allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies peanut proteins as harmful, leading to reactions that range from mild symptoms, such as hives and diarrhea, to severe cases of anaphylaxis. Poblete remarked that these findings underscore the need for policy changes that could further reduce life-threatening allergy diagnoses. She suggested that the **U.S. Department of Agriculture** could consider including peanut products in infant food packages.
Food allergy prevalence has been rising, with **2.2%** of U.S. children now diagnosed with peanut allergies. Factors contributing to this increase include delayed introduction of allergenic foods, cesarean section births, and antibiotic exposure, according to Dr. Hill. He called for intensified efforts to understand why children develop food allergies and to explore better treatment and potential cures.
Since the period studied, infant feeding guidelines have continued to evolve. In **2021**, the **Academy of Pediatrics** recommended that all infants be introduced to major food allergens, including peanuts and eggs, between the ages of **4 to 6 months**. The shifting guidelines reflect a growing understanding of how early exposure can mitigate the risk of developing food allergies.
