Peanut allergies decline

The number of children suffering from peanut allergies is declining – due to more eating them as infants.

Research from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Australia found a 16 per cent decrease between 2007 and 2019.

In 2016, there was a change to international guidelines, encouraging parents to introduce common allergenic foods before 12 months. Previously it was thought that children should avoid such foods before the age of three.

The study compared children in 2018-2019 with a similar group in 2007-2011 and found a significant difference between them.