BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

A profound change in pediatric nutrition is paying off: newly released research confirms that introducing peanut products to babies as young as four months is not only safe, it’s effective in preventing potentially life-threatening peanut allergies.

According to a study published last week in Pediatrics, the rate of peanut allergy among U.S. children aged zero to three has dropped by more than 27 percent since 2015, when guidelines first recommended early peanut introduction for high-risk infants. After those recommendations were broadened in 2017 to apply to all children, the rate declined by over 40 percent.

“That’s a remarkable thing, right?” said Dr. David Hill, lead study author and allergist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “I can actually come to you today and say there are less kids with food allergy today than there would have been if we hadn’t implemented this public health effort.”

A major pivot in allergy advice

Doctors have been warning parents to delay peanut exposure until age three for generations now. That changed in 2015, after Dr. Gideon Lack and his team at King’s College London published the stirring LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) trial. Their findings showed that introducing peanut products in infancy reduced allergy development by more than 80 percent. Later follow-up revealed about 70 percent of that protection lasted into adolescence.

The new guidelines were undeniably hopeful, but uptake was slow. Early surveys showed that just 29 percent of pediatricians and 65 percent of allergists were following the updated advice. According to an accompanying commentary by Dr. Ruchi Gupta of Northwestern University, confusion over how to safely introduce peanuts outside clinical settings contributed to the hesitation.

Still, the numbers suggest that progress is underway. Researchers analyzed electronic health records from dozens of pediatric practices nationwide and estimate that since 2015, around 60,000 children have avoided food allergies, including roughly 40,000 who sidestepped peanut allergies specifically.

Real-world adoption and results

“This research reinforces what we already know and underscores a meaningful opportunity to reduce the incidence and prevalence of peanut allergy nationwide,” said Sung Poblete, CEO of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE).

Peanut allergies, which affect over two percent of U.S. children, occur when the immune system misidentifies peanut proteins as dangerous, leading to symptoms like hives, difficulty breathing, or even anaphylaxis.

Dr. Hill emphasized that today’s advice encourages introducing common allergens between four and six months of age. That means not just peanuts but also tree nuts, soy, and milk-based products. No prior screening or testing is required, though parents should consult with their pediatrician if they have concerns.

“It doesn’t have to be a lot of the food,” Hill explained. “But little tastes of peanut butter, milk-based yogurt, soy-based yogurts, and tree butters—these are really good ways to allow the immune system exposure to these allergenic foods in a safe way.”

Changing generational beliefs

For many families, the new guidance has required a shift in thinking. Tiffany Leon, a registered dietitian and director at FARE, introduced peanuts and other allergens early to her two young sons, a move that initially shocked her own mother.

“As a dietitian, I practice evidence-based recommendations,” Leon said. “So when someone told me, ‘This is how it’s done now, these are the new guidelines,’ I just thought, OK, well, this is what we’re going to do.”

What comes next

While the data is promising, researchers acknowledge that their findings came from a subset of pediatric practices and may not represent the entire U.S. population. Still, the trend is clear: early allergen introduction is gaining traction, and it appears to be making a real impact.

As Dr. Gupta’s commentary concludes, “This is promising evidence that early allergen introduction is not only being adopted but may be making a measurable impact.”

Source study: Pediatrics—Guidelines for early food introduction and patterns of food allergy