Peanut Allergies Have Plummeted in Children, Study Shows

Summary for Educators

A major shift in pediatric guidelines over the past decade appears to have produced one of the most significant public-health gains in childhood food allergies, according to a new study summarized by The New York Times. After years in which parents were instructed to avoid exposing infants to allergens such as peanuts, new research demonstrates that early introduction of such foods may dramatically reduce allergy rates—and these changes are now being reflected in national data.

For many years, medical advice was built around the belief that delaying exposure to allergenic foods would prevent allergic reactions. However, a groundbreaking clinical trial in 2015 demonstrated the opposite: introducing peanut products early—during a narrow developmental window in infancy—reduced the risk of developing a peanut allergy by more than 80 percent. This evidence prompted the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in 2017 to issue guidelines recommending the early introduction of peanut-containing foods.

The new study, published in Pediatrics, offers the strongest real-world evidence to date that these guidelines are working. Reviewing data from nearly 50 pediatric practices and 125,000 children, researchers found that food allergy rates among children under age 3 dropped from 1.46 percent (2012–2015) to 0.93 percent (2017–2020)—a 36 percent overall reduction. Peanut allergies decreased even more sharply at 43 percent. Although the study does not establish causation, the correlation between guideline adoption and sharp declines is compelling.

Researchers also identified a shift in the most common allergens. While peanut allergies declined, egg allergies rose to become the most prevalent among young children. This is notable because it suggests that early-introduction efforts may need to expand well beyond peanuts to include other common allergens.

Experts cited in the article emphasize that the science behind early exposure is grounded in what researchers understand about immune system development. When infants encounter potential allergens through the skin—especially if they have eczema or inflamed skin—their immune systems may misidentify the proteins as harmful. But when allergens are introduced through the digestive system early in life, the body is more likely to develop tolerance. Current national guidelines (updated in 2021) recommend introducing all common food allergens to infants between four and six months old, with small, frequent exposures.

However, implementation remains a challenge. Surveys show that fewer than 20 percent of caregivers introduce peanut-containing foods before seven months. Additionally, pediatricians recommend early peanut introduction to only about 10 percent of high-risk infants and 35 percent of low-risk infants. Limited awareness of the guidelines and time constraints during pediatric appointments may contribute to the slow uptake.

The study’s authors note important limitations: the data only follow children through age 3; outcomes in later childhood are unknown. International data are mixed—studies in Australia and Sweden did not find similar declines, which suggests that other factors (such as improved eczema treatment or demographic differences) may play roles.

For educators, the study highlights the importance of keeping pace with evolving public-health guidelines that directly affect student safety. Schools continue to manage significant numbers of students with food allergies, and these findings offer hope that severe allergies—particularly to peanuts—may become less common in future cohorts of children. But until early-introduction guidelines are widely adopted, school systems must maintain strong allergy-management protocols and clear communication with families.

Educators should be aware that pediatric advice has changed profoundly in recent years—and families of infants may need accurate information and reassurance about safe early feeding practices. The findings underscore the broader role schools play in partnering with families, sharing up-to-date health information, and supporting students with life-altering allergies.

Original Article

Citation: Bajaj, S. (2025, Oct. 20). Peanut Allergies Have Plummeted in Children, Study Shows. The New York Times.

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