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The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that parents introduce some babies to peanut-containing foods to avoid dangerous allergies.
The new guideline calls for "purposeful feeding" infants who are 4-6 months old and at high-risk for developing food allergies, perhaps because they have a relative with a food allergy, infant-safe forms of peanuts after solid foods have already been introduced.
The AAP issued updated guidance Monday, which was published in the journal "Pediatrics."
"The general theory behind this is that getting the food into the body by eating is a way that the immune system usually initially learns to 'accept' the food," said Dr. Scott Sicherer, co-author of the report said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Sicherer said that the introduction of the food needs to be sustained over time. "The guidelines provide advice to eat it in specific amounts (three) times a week," he said.
The report replaces 2008 guidelines further strengthening that there is no convincing evidence that delaying allergenic foods prevents food allergies.
Introduce peanut-containing food to infants
The report references the LEAP trial, which was published in the "New England Journal of Medicine," and recommends that children at high risk for peanut allergies be introduced to products with peanuts at 4 to 6 months. Only 1.9 percent introduced to peanuts early developed an allergy, compared to 13.7 percent of kids who waited until they were 5 years of age, according to the study.
While introduction can be early, high-risk babies (those with severe eczema or egg allergies) should also follow AAP guidelines that include allergy testing, introducing peanut-containing foods at a doctor's office, and monitoring the amount and frequency.
Babies not at increased risk can be introduced peanut-containing foods "freely" with other solid foods in accordance with family preferences.
The group also cautions that peanuts and peanut butter are choking hazards, and advises on forms that are safe for infants such as peanut butter smoothed into pureed fruits or vegetables.
Beyond that, the report says there is no strong evidence that other common food allergens — like eggs— should be intentionally delayed.
The group joins the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which suggested the same guidelines in 2017 after a trial of 600 infants.
Breastfeeding helps asthma, eczema
The report also addressed breastfeeding mothers and food allergens. Evidence doesn't say whether breastfeeding can prevent or delay children developing food allergies.
But researchers say breastfeeding in the first three to four months of life have children less likely to develop childhood eczema. Those children breastfed longer than four months, are less likely to develop wheezing and asthma, even if they are not breastfed exclusively.
There is a lack of evidence that partially or extensively feeding by formula prevents prevents asthma and food allergy.
Source: USA Today
