Peanut Allergies Plummet as “Early and Often” Feeding Advice Pays Off

Huge news for the peanut world! Headlines across the country from the New York Times to ABC News are celebrating a major win for peanut producers and parents alike. A new study led by Dr. David Hill at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows peanut allergies in children have plummeted. Thanks to the “early and often” approach promoted by the National Peanut Board, around 60,000 kids have avoided developing peanut allergies.

It all started with the groundbreaking LEAP study, which stands for Learning Early About Peanut Allergy. The research revealed that introducing peanut products in infancy actually reduces the risk of allergy. Those findings sparked a complete shift in medical advice, leading to national guidelines in 2015 and 2017 encouraging early peanut introduction for most infants.

Now, this doesn’t mean every baby should have peanuts right away. It’s always best to consult your pediatrician for guidance. But one thing’s clear: early exposure has changed the game for allergy prevention. You can find a link to the full study at https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2025-072593/204627/Encouraging-Trends-in-Peanut-Allergy-Prevention