Guidelines announced to stop children developing nut allergies

It may sound strange, but experts have now said that children who are at high risk of developing a peanut allergy should be given food with traces of nuts which will help prevent an allergy from developing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics published a study earlier this year and have issued new guidelines based on the findings that children who eat food containing peanuts three or more times a week from under the age of one, rarely have a reaction later in life.

Less than 1 per cent developed an allergy, compared with more than 17 per cent of youngsters whose diet was peanut-free.

A peanut allergy commonly causes breathing problems, The Daily Mail has said: ‘Those affected most severely can have a life-threatening anaphylactic shock even when exposed only to a trace of peanuts in food. Until recently, parents were told to avoid exposing their children to peanuts until they were three – advice that has now been withdrawn. Parents are also warned never to give young children whole peanuts because of the danger of choking.’

Professor Gideon Lack, who led the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy study said: ‘This is an important clinical development and contravenes previous guidelines,’ he said at the time. While these were withdrawn in 2008 in the UK and US, our study suggests that new guidelines may be needed to reduce the rate of peanut allergy in our children.’ 

It’s thought that early consumption can reduce the rate of peanut allergy by as much as 80 percent.

CLICK HERE to find out more about the Learning Early About Peanut Allergy study.