Many patients who have tree nut allergy wonder if they have coconut allergy as well. That goes more to the question, is coconut a tree nut? Coconut is actually a fruit, but the US FDA classifies coconut as a tree nut. There has been little guidance in patients with tree nut allergies on the safety […]
New Peanut Guidelines
New peanut guidelines have been officially introduced by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in response to the earlier studies we have discussed from the LEAP trials. Peanut Allergy Prevention Peanut allergy is a growing public health problem. In the United States, peanut allergy prevalence is approximately 2% among children. Peanut allergy is […]
Food Allergy Treatment Options
Food allergy treatment is being heavily researched as food allergies are becoming increasingly common. In 2007 the estimated prevalence of food allergies among school children was 4%, an 18% increase since 1997, while other studies estimate up to 8%. One theory why food allergies are increasing is the hygiene hypothesis. Less exposure to certain microorganisms, […]
How to introduce peanuts in infants
How to introduce peanuts is a common question asked from parents ever since the LEAP study was published. Peanut Allergy Prevention The first step is to identify high risk infants for peanut allergy. Before introducing peanut to high risk infants, the infant should be seen by their pediatrician if an allergist referral is required. The allergist […]
Can Touching Peanut Butter Cause an Allergic Reaction?
As many as 15 million people in the United States have food allergies, with 6 million of them being children. Every 3 minutes a food allergy reactions sends someone to the ER. 15% of school aged children with food allergies have a reaction at school, peanuts are most commonly associated with severe allergic reactions. Unfortunately […]
When should we introduce allergenic foods in breast-fed infants?
The age at which allergenic foods should be introduced to breast fed infants is unclear. With recent studies showing the benefit of early introduction of peanut, Peanut Allergy Prevention, a study published in the New England Journal evaluated whether early introduction of allergenic foods in the diets of breast-fed infants would protect against the development of […]
Nut Component Testing
Nut component testing is being used more and more these days to better identify nut allergies. In previous posts we have spoken about peanut component testing and hazelnut component testing. Peanut Component Testing Hazelnut Allergy The FDA recently approved nut component testing for the following nuts, Walnut, Cashew and Brazil Nut Allergen components. The tests […]
Sesame allergy, the 9th Food Allergen?
Sesame allergy is on the rise in the United States. Sesame allergy is growing at a faster rate in the U.S. than other food allergies. If you have read our previous posts, you will know that there are 8 common food allergens that are responsible for 90 percent of all food reactions in the United […]
Peanut Allergy Death
Today in London, the owner of a curry house was found guilty in causing the death of a customer who had a severe peanut allergy. The owner Mohammed Zaman, was sentenced to 6 years. He was found to have a “cavalier attitude” to food safety. This marked the first time in Britain that someone has been […]
Eczema and Food Allergy
Eczema and food allergy frequently coexist in children. Eczema also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic inflammatory multifactorial disease with a relapsing course. Worldwide, approximately 5-20% of children are affected by eczema, causing a significant reduction in quality of life for children and their families. We have written about eczema extensively in previous […]