Over the past 10 to 15 years, researchers have sought ways to prevent the development of food allergy in children. A large number of interventions have been tried in parents who are at increased risk for having allergic children, including dietary restriction in the mother (during pregnancy and breast-feeding), strict adherence to a breast milk diet for the infant, and dietary restriction in the infant after food is introduced.
While some of the studies have shown that food allergy was initially reduced in the newborn, by 2 years of age the prevalence was comparable to children who did not undergo the dietary interventions. Currently, researchers are looking at new ways to reduce food allergy in high-risk babies. Preliminary findings suggest that early introduction of peanuts into the newborn’s diet may actually block the development of a peanut allergy. While this is a very exciting and important prospect, it cannot be recommended until large, rigorous trials confirm these observations.