The goal of this review is to synthesise recent research and evolving consensus guidelines for food allergy prevention in babies published in the last 5 years. Before 2013, the prevailing opinion about food allergy prevention in babies was to advocate delayed introduction or full avoidance of typically allergenic foods such as milk, egg, and peanut. However, numerous landmark studies, notably with peanuts, have been done in the last 5 years. The findings of these research have resulted in a paradigm change from advocating delayed introduction to promoting early and frequent feeding of highly allergenic foods such as peanut, in the hopes of attaining primary and secondary prevention of food allergy.
Recent clinical trials have shown that early and frequent introduction of commonly allergenic foods, rather than delayed introduction or complete avoidance, has an important role in avoiding food allergy in babies. More research is needed to risk-stratify babies based on personal and familial atopic history in order to adapt guidelines for groups with intrinsically varying risks. The guidelines’ general adoption and the effect of their application are yet unknown.
