Failure to follow guidelines

Parents are shying away from introducing allergenic foods such as eggs to babies in the first year as recommended.

PARENTS are shying away from introducing allergenic foods such as eggs and peanut butter to babies in the first year as recommended under new guidelines, sparking concern from allergy experts.

New data shows families are either too afraid, too confused or unaware of The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy recommendations, introduced last year as a way to reduce the growing rates of childhood allergies. Australia has one of the highest rates in the world.

In the past, parents were told to delay allergenic solids.

Now research shows it is important to introduce foods such as peanut butter, cooked egg, dairy and wheat between four and 12 months.

Professor Peter Davies, di- rector of the Children’s Nutrition Research Centre at the University of Queensland, says it’s vital parents adhere to the guidelines to reduce the risk of later childhood food allergies.

“Figures from the Children’s Nutrition Research Centre show that in the seven days leading up to their first birthday, only 60 per cent of infants had consumed eggs, less than half (42 per cent) had tried peanut butter, just over half (56 per cent) had eaten seafood and more than one in 10 (11 per cent) had not been exposed to dairy,” Prof Davies said.

“Thankfully, many children ‘grow out’ of their allergy, but in some the allergy continues into adulthood and can be a lifetime concern.”

Children’s Health Queensland’s allergy dietitian and researcher Kathy Beck says nationally 10 per cent of infants have food allergies and 3 per cent have a peanut allergy.

“Many children with food allergy experienced symptoms such as facial rashes and swelling, vomiting and abdominal pain,” she said.

“Some have experienced life-threatening anaphylaxis.”

IN SOME THE ALLERGY CONTINUES INTO ADULTHOOD AND CAN BE A LIFETIME CONCERN PROFESSOR PETER DAVIES