Parents are advised to give peanut to babies early to reduce allergy risk

Babies should be given peanut early - some at four months old - in order to reduce the risk of allergy, according to new US guidance. Studies have shown the risk of peanut allergy can be cut by more than 80% by early exposure. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said the new guidance was "an important step forward". However, young children should not eat whole peanuts, because of the risk of choking. Parents are often wary about introducing peanut and in the past have been advised to wait until the child is three years old.
The new guidance says:

• Children with other allergies or severe eczema should start on peanut-containing foods at between four and six months old, with medical supervision
• Babies with mild eczema should have peanut-containing food at about six months old
• Those with no eczema or allergies can have peanut-containing food freely introduced

Michael Walker, a member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, said: "The guidelines are based on sound medical research carried out in the UK. Prof Alan Boobis, from Imperial College London, said: "The previous view that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods decreases the risk of food allergy is incorrect and... if anything, the exclusion or delayed introduction of specific allergenic foods may increase the risk of allergy to the same foods, including peanut."

Source: BBC