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The number of children diagnosed with peanut allergies in the U.S. has fallen, with data suggesting that a shift in infant feeding practices might be the reason why. A study published in the scientific journal Pediatrics found that food allergies mediated by the immune system's Immunoglobulin E antibodies—including potentially life-threatening peanut allergies—have declined significantly since national guidelines began recommending an early introduction of allergenic foods. The findings are being hailed by many medical professionals as validation of years of public health advocacy. The study, conducted by researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), analyzed data from the electronic health records of more than 120,000 children. The anaylsis found a 43 percent reduction in peanut allergy diagnoses in infants born between 2017 and 2019, following the 2017 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) addendum guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy. Compared with pre-2015 levels, the risk of peanut allergy had already dropped by 27 percent in infants born between 2015 and 2017, after the first set of recommendations based on the 2015 Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial were published. Should Parents Feed Their Children Peanuts? Professor Gideon Lack, the lead researcher of the original LEAP trial, told Newsweek that the results of the by CHOP analysis affirm the effectiveness of early and consistent peanut introduction. “It is gratifying to see the protective benefits of early and consistent peanut exposure that we saw in the LEAP study replicated in a real-world setting,” Lack, who is based in the U.K., said. “This new study provides even more evidence that early peanut exposure should be the standard of care and has the potential to make a remarkable difference for future generations and cause peanut allergies to plummet.” The LEAP trial was a landmark study that prompted a paradigm shift in how medical experts view allergy treatment and care. Its findings demonstrated that the early exposure of peanuts in 4–11-month-old infants with severe eczema or an egg allergy reduced their peanut allergy risk by 81 percent. The results of the LEAP trial encouraged major pediatric, allergy and immunology organizations to develop what later became consensus guidelines putting the findings into practice. Released in 2015 and 2017, these guidelines initially focused on children thought to be at high risk of food allergy. But in 2021, new guidelines were implemented to introduce peanuts, eggs and other major food allergens to all 4–6-month-old children, despite their history. The new CHOP study intended to show how things have played out one decade on. Results showed that the prevalence of any IgE-mediated food allergy decreased from 1.46 percent to 0.93 percent of the children studied, while peanut allergy rates dropped from 0.79 percent to 0.45 percent. Lack estimates that widespread adoption of these recommendations could prevent over 100,000 cases of peanut allergy each year, amounting to a million children over the next decade being spared the burden of lifelong food allergy management and the anxiety that this can create. IgE-mediated food allergies, which affect an estimated 4 percent of children, can trigger symptoms such as hives, swelling, vomiting and difficulty breathing upon exposure to specific proteins in foods like milk, eggs, wheat and peanuts. These reactions can occur within minutes and may be life-threatening. While the change in how pediatricians approach allergen exposure began with the LEAP trial, subsequent long-term follow-up studies, including the LEAP-Trio study published in 2024, confirmed that this protection extends into adolescence when early exposure is sustained. Still, not all children benefit equally, the method is not a guaranteed prevention and there is more research to be done. But experts say the shift from avoidance to exposure marks one of the most effective interventions in allergy prevention currently available. “Early allergen introduction is incredibly effective, and I recommend it for all infants,” Dr. Christopher Parrish, a triple board-certified allergist and clinical immunologist at Latitude Food Allergy Care, told Newsweek. “Research shows it can reduce the likelihood of developing a peanut allergy by over 80 percent, which is very significant. "This is currently the only proven intervention that reduces the risk of developing severe, potentially life-threatening food allergies.” Parrish emphasized that frequent exposure is critical: “There is one crucial point parents often misunderstand. This is not a one-time introduction. For the intervention to be effective, children need to consume these foods multiple times per week. Single or infrequent exposures won’t provide the protective benefit.” He also urged education for parents, particularly those with anxiety about introducing potential allergens. “Today’s recommendations have completely moved towards removing barriers that might stop families from introducing these foods early and keeping them in the diet,” Parrish said. “Reactions at this age, especially with the first introduction, are almost always mild, often consisting of hives or vomiting, and I universally recommend all children start early introduction at 4–6-months-old at home." He added that it is understandable for parents of high-risk children to feel anxious about taking such action and suggests that these families start with very small amounts of the food and increase the amount offered each time. "I also suggest consulting an allergist who focuses on food allergies if parents have concerns," he said. Other experts echoed the call for supervised but proactive allergen introduction. Elizabeth Pecoraro, a registered dietitian and food allergy specialist, told Newsweek that her own child avoided a peanut allergy through early and consistent exposure. “When my son was 6-months-old, a skin test showed a small positive to peanuts,” she said. “Because of my daughter’s multiple allergies, we worked with his allergist to introduce peanut products at 7-months, three times a week. He never reacted, and we maintained that pattern until he was five. "Today, he has no peanut allergy, and I believe that early exposure made the difference.” Pecoraro, who also teaches a food allergy course, agreed that parents should consult with a healthcare provider if they have a family history of allergies. “But with proper guidance, early introduction isn’t just safe, it’s protective," she said. Can Adult's Allergies Be Cured? The CHOP researchers estimate that one food allergy is prevented for every 200 infants introduced to allergens early—a ratio many experts say justifies the public health campaign. Still, some caution remains, particularly regarding applying the same approach to adult patients and those with existing allergies. A recent trial conducted by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London in the U.K. demonstrated that even adults with serious peanut allergies could benefit from oral immunotherapy, a process in which patients are gradually desensitized by consuming minute, increasing doses of peanut under medical supervision. Fourteen of 21 patients in the study could eventually consume the equivalent of five peanuts without a reaction. While promising, oral immunotherapy is not a cure and carries significant risk. Experts warn against trying such interventions at home or without the support of a medical professional. Larger studies are also needed to understand why the therapy worked for some patients and not others. Dr. Cindy Slam Bauer, division chief of allergy and immunology at Phoenix Children’s, emphasized the cultural shift that has occurred in pediatric allergy prevention: “For years, other countries have had lower food allergy rates, namely for peanut, because they chose the more natural approach of feeding their babies what the rest of the family was eating,” she told Newsweek. “From dairy to fish, this was a much better choice from a food allergy prevention standpoint as well as being natural and inclusive.” While early allergen introduction is not without complexities, the measurable reduction in peanut allergies—once the most common pediatric food allergy and one that terrifies allergy parents—signals a milestone in preventive care. As Pecoraro put it: "The scientific evidence and real-world results align." The CHOP's study’s first author, Stanislaw Gabryszewski—an attending physician in the hospital's division of allergy and immunology—said in a statement: “We now have data that suggest that the effect of this landmark public health intervention is occurring." Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek. Reference
