Early Peanut Introduction Tied to Allergy Declines

A large multi-site analysis led by Dr. David Hill at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia analyzed electronic health records from roughly 120,000 children and found physician-diagnosed peanut allergy in children under 3 fell about 43% after national guidance shifted to recommend early peanut introduction. The study also found an approximately 36% decline in overall IgE-mediated food-allergy diagnoses. Researchers estimate this change corresponds to tens of thousands of children spared food allergies, with cited figures ranging from about 40,000 up to more than 50,000. Authors caution the study is observational, relies on clinician-documented diagnoses rather than standardized testing, and cannot specify how families introduced peanuts (forms, amounts, frequency). Clinicians say nearly all infants can be offered peanut per current guidance but advise families with existing allergies to keep an action plan, carry epinephrine, and consult a pediatrician or allergist. The findings bolster real-world support for early-introduction recommendations while underscoring the need for broader uptake, ongoing surveillance, and research in larger, more diverse populations.