Changing the Way Babies Eat: Supporting Early Allergen Feeding Around the World

Food allergies are a growing health epidemic, with population-based surveys in the USA estimating that up to 8% of children and 11% of adults are now living with a food allergy. During the 1990s and early 2000s, international guidelines recommended the avoidance of commonly problematic food during infancy due to the belief that early introduction of these foods may increase the risk of allergies. However, beginning with the publication of the LEAP trial in 2015,3 a paradigm shift in the understanding of food allergy prevention has occurred. Clinical guidelines now generally recommend the introduction of potentially allergenic food after 4–6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. This symposium occurred during the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Congress, 2022 and discussed early allergen introduction and food allergy prevention.