Allergy Resources for Medical Professionals

Peanut Allergy Prevention

In 2017, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) released recommendations about the early introduction of peanut foods to prevent peanut allergy. ⁽¹⁾ The new guidelines recommend introducing baby-friendly peanut foods to infants as early as 4-6 months of age, especially if they are at higher risk for food allergy due to severe eczema or egg allergy. This is based largely on a study called Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) which was released early in 2015. ⁽²⁾ This study found that eating peanut foods early could prevent peanut allergy in high-risk infants – reducing the incidence by as much as 86%. A second study, LEAP-On, found if high-risk children regularly ate peanut foods during their first five years that there was no increased risk of developing peanut allergy in their 6th year even if they avoided peanuts for one year.

The good news in that most babies are not at risk for developing a peanut allergy. The 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans ⁽³⁾ recommend that all babies should be introduced to peanut protein within the first year of life. Babies with severe eczema or egg allergy should be introduced at 4-6 months. The window to prevent peanut allergy is early and small so early and often is key!

Peanut Allergy Prevention Resources for Medical Professionals

Parents have been hearing about early introduction from many sources, but none is as important as their pediatrician or primary care provider! There are many free resources to help you be a champion for early introduction to help prevent peanut allergies and the lifetime burden they bring.

• Earn continuing education credit with American Academy of Pediatrics’ free online course: Peanut Allergy Prevention Through Early Introduction.
• Access a compilation of research, webinars, free downloadable content for use in your practice, and early introduction recipes at PreventPeanutAllergies.com.

Promote Peanuts in Your Practice

Are you a professional looking for resources? Peanuts are a great way to promote a variety of initiatives from allergy awareness to heart-health. Learn more about and request your FREE custom peanut kit today!