Infants Should Be Fed Peanuts to Stave Off Allergies
Contrary to past guidance, new recommendations call for early introduction
By Leah Samuel on January 5, 2017
Credit: Pixabay (CC0 1.0)
Federal health officials on Thursday issued new food allergy guidelines that could help reduce peanut allergies among children — and that, contrary to past guidance, call for parents to give babies foods containing peanuts as early as 4 to 6 months of age.
The new guidelines from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, reflect an improved scientific understanding of the best ways to prevent the development of allergies.
“There is this magic window of opportunity, where you can introduce peanut-containing foods,” said Dr. David Stukus, a pediatric allergist in Ohio and a coauthor of the new guidelines.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/infants-should-be-fed-peanuts-to-stave-off-allergies/
