Food Allergy Prevention: Q&A with Chief of Pediatrics Dr. Matthew
Dr. Andrew Matthew, Los Robles Medical Center's Chief of Pediatrics, answers your most-asked questions about introducing your baby to allergens.
What do you tell parents about food allergy prevention?
Parents often tell me they're not worried about food allergies because it's not in their family. This is a common misconception - most kids with food allergies (>50%) have no family history. Many parents are also afraid to feed their babies potentially allergenic foods like peanuts, but we now know that introducing these foods early and often may be the best approach to avoid food allergies.
The link between early exposure to allergens and low allergy rates was first observed in Israel, where infants are fed peanut very early on and peanut allergies are rare (0.17% prevalence as compared to 1.7% in the UK and 1.4% in the US). This observation was confirmed in multiple clinical trials (such as the LEAP and PETIT studies), where infants who were fed allergenic foods starting at 4-11 months had a significantly reduced risk of developing allergies to those foods. These studies also showed it was not enough to feed these foods once, but they had to be eaten multiple times a week for several months.
Based on these studies and new national guidelines, I recommend that parents introduce allergenic foods into their baby’s diet starting around 4-6 months (and as late as 11 months) and continue to feed these foods for several months.
If my baby is older than 6 months, is it too late to introduce allergens?
Although earlier exposure is favorable, I feel it is never too late to start! Many parents worry that their baby will have a reaction, but research has shown that allergic reactions are much less severe in younger infants than in toddlers and older children, so parents should not delay. Anaphylaxis, or severe allergic reactions, tend to happen more as children get older.
Is eating peanut, egg, and milk while breastfeeding and pregnant enough to prevent food allergies?
A lot of parents tell me they think breastfeeding is enough. Unfortunately, this is not true. While breastfeeding has many benefits, current research suggests it is not enough to prevent allergies. National medical guidelines recommend that even moms who are exclusively breastfeeding do early and sustained introduction starting at 4-6 months to help reduce the risk of developing food allergies.
What do you tell parents of babies with eczema?
Approximately 30% of babies with eczema will develop food allergies, so early allergen introduction is particularly important for this high-risk group. National medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health recommend that parents of babies with eczema begin allergen introduction at 4 months, and it is extremely important to not delay introduction in this group.
How do you recommend that parents follow these new food allergy prevention guidelines?
I've been recommending early allergen introduction, but I was concerned about choking, dose, and how parents would sustain exposure. I recommend Ready, Set, Food! because:
Controlled doses to maximize safety and efficacy-Ready, Set, Food! uses the same doses as the studies and introduces one food at a time per AAP guidelines. A lot of parents ask how much to feed and how often, and this product takes out all the guesswork. It is the safest way to introduce peanut, egg, and milk to your baby.
Makes it easy to start early and SUSTAIN exposure- Parents often delay allergen introduction because their baby is not ready to eat solid foods. Ready, Set, Food! allows parents to start early by adding a powder to their baby’s breast milk or formula. A lot of parents will give their baby peanuts once or twice, but this is not enough - they need to be fed multiple times a week for several months to reduce the risk. Daily packets make that easy.
Organic, no added sugars or preservatives. Ready, Set, Food! is made with only real, organic foods and nothing else.
About the Andrew M. Matthew, M.D.:
Andrew M. Matthew, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a native Californian who graduated from UCLA in 1972 with a degree in Psychology. He then attended UCLA Medical School, graduating in 1976. He finished his residency in Pediatrics in 1979, his last year serving as Chief Resident, and started his own practice in Agoura Hills in 1981 (moving to Oak Park in 1983). He served as Chief of Pediatrics and Chief of Staff at Westlake Hospital, and as Chief of Pediatrics at Los Robles Regional Medical Center (last in 2010). He is a member of the scientific advisory board for Ready, Set, Food! In his spare time, Dr. Matthew can be found competing in local triathlons or attending a UCLA sporting event. He is a husband to Sandy, proud father to three children, and grandfather to Emma, Henry, Gabriel, Nathan, Sadie, Abe, and Lily.
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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If your infant has severe eczema, check with your infant’s healthcare provider before feeding foods containing ground peanuts.
