The
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has released a new position paper which states there is
insufficient evidence to support previous advice to parents to specifically delay or avoid foods such as peanuts in infants' diets to prevention food allergies.
ASCIA says the document explains why parents "may choose not to delay" the introduction of potentially allergenic foods.
The new
ASCIA Infant Feeding Advice is in line with similar advice released recently in both the United Kingdom and United States.
Some key points are:- It is considered that breastfeeding during the period that foods are first introduced may help prevent the development of allergy to those foods.
- Exclusion of allergenic foods from the maternal diet has not been shown to prevent allergies.
- There is little evidence that delaying the introduction of complementary solid foods may actually increase (rather than decrease) allergy, however at this stage this is not proven.
- There is insufficient evidence to support previous advice to specifically delay or avoid potentially allergenic foods (such as egg, peanuts, nuts, wheat, cow's milk and fish) for the prevention of food allergy or eczema. This also applies to infants with siblings who already have allergies to these foods.
On its website, ASCIA says the reason for the continued rise in allergic diseases is complex and not well understood.
"Many previous prevention strategies have been ineffective. Although children with a family history of allergy are at a higher risk of allergy, many children with no family history of allergy also develop allergy," ASCIA says.
"This advice is relevant for all families, including those in which other children already have allergies. It takes into account current evidence (as at September 2008)."
Download the ASCIA Infant Feeding Advice (128kb PDF) UK Withdraws Advice To Avoid Peanuts Time For A Change In Strategy?
