May is #FoodAllergyActionMonth and we’re here to provide you with the most up-to-date information on food allergies so you can make informed decisions for your family. Learn more about food allergy trends, symptoms, early allergen introduction and more.
What Is A Food Allergy?
A food allergy is an immune system response to an allergenic food. When a food allergic reaction occurs, your child’s immune system is treating a potentially allergenic food as a foreign invader and the reaction is a result of your child’s immune system overreacting to an otherwise harmless food.
Food Allergy Trends
- More than 30 million in the US suffer from a food allergy.
- In addition, now 1 in 13 children are affected by food allergies.
- The rate of peanut allergy has tripled in recent years.
- The top allergens include: milk, egg, peanut, sesame, soy, wheat, tree nut, shellfish and fish
Food Allergy Symptoms
The most common symptoms or signs of a food allergic reaction are hives, upset stomach, and breathing problems. In children, the most common symptoms are hives and/or vomiting. However, symptoms can vary from one person to the other and also the same allergen can cause different symptoms at different times. See the chart below for all other symptoms.
Medical Guidelines on Early Allergen Introduction
Because there is no cure for food allergy, introducing allergens is essential to an allergy-free future. New medical guidelines recommend introducing common allergens starting at 4-6 months of age. Here’s a summary of guidelines on early allergen introduction from the world’s leading health organizations:
Making It Easy to Introduce Allergens
Our mission is to help babies have healthier futures, free from the limits of food allergies. We believe that all babies deserve a future of food freedom, and that all parents deserve access to a safe and convenient way to help them achieve it. We created Ready. Set. Food! to make early allergen introduction easier, so parents can prepare their children for a healthier future. To advance this important mission, we’ve launched our #OneMoreBaby Giving Back Program to donate thousands of allergen introduction plans to low income families, to make sure every family can give their baby the best chance at a healthier future. Learn more about our #OneMoreBaby Giving Back Program here.
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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.