Genius way parents are halting rise of peanut allergies

The rise of peanut allergies among Victorian children appears to be halted thanks to this genius move by parents.

The rise of peanut allergies among Victorian children appears to have been halted because parents are making the nut spread one of the first foods they feed their babies.

Parents have traditionally been advised to delay giving infants any food that could cause an allergy – such as egg, shellfish or nuts – until after their first birthday.

But with growing evidence that this overcautious advice from the 1990s was doing more harm than good in the development of allergies, international feeding guidelines were updated four years ago to recommend their early introduction.

A team from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute compared infant feeding habits and prevalence of peanut allergy among a group of 5000 Melburnian children 10 years ago, to 2000 babies recruited since new guidelines were published.

Stellan Saunders has been eating peanut products since 5 months of age.

Lead researcher and MCRI PhD candidate Victoria Soriano said not only did researchers find parents were adhering to the new guidelines – 89 per cent of children now fed peanuts before their first birthday compared to 28 per cent a decade ago – it was making significant inroads into reducing allergies.

Changed guidelines led to a 16 per cent decrease in peanut allergies among infants.

In the most recent cohort, 2.6 per cent of babies who ate peanuts before turning one had a peanut allergy, compared to 4.8 per cent of infants who had not touched them by 12 months.

“It really is quite amazing because it’s the first environmental factor that we have control over that can prevent food allergy,” Ms Soriano said. “We believe the increase in early peanut consumption may have actually halted the rise in peanut allergy, and that peanut allergy would have continued rising if it hadn’t been for these changed guidelines.

Megan Chappel welcomed conformation that early feeding was best. Picture: Jason Edwards

“But the prevalence of peanut allergy is still quite high in Melbourne.

“There are some genetic factors. There are some parents who do everything perfectly and their child will still get food allergy.

“This highlights the significance of other ongoing research into other environmental risk factors such as eczema and vitamin D.”

The findings will be presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Virtual Annual Meeting this weekend.

First-time-mum Megan Chappel started her son, Stellan, on peanut butter at five months of age. While he has not experienced an allergy, she welcomed conformation that early feeding was best.

“Solids and allergens are the big topics for our mothers group, along with sleep,” Ms Chappel said.

“Introducing solids to a baby so young is one of the things that is the most daunting. As a parent, if you can do anything to give your child a better head start, of course you will do it. These results are a pat on the back for us mums.”