Can Food Allergies in Children Be Prevented

Food allergies pose a significant burden on individuals and families due to dietary restrictions, which carry the risk of nutritional deficiencies, social restrictions, and impacts on quality of life. Thus, prevention is critical. This chapter provides a brief overview of the magnitude of the food allergy problem and identifies factors contributing to this rising epidemic. It also reviews the current guidelines for preventing food allergies in children. Recently, there has been a clear shift in guidelines, which now emphasize the early introduction of potentially allergenic foods instead of avoidance. Findings from selected articles published between 2021 and 2023 are also briefly reviewed to complement these guidelines. There is a discussion about whether this shift in guidelines will lead to meaningful reductions in the prevalence of food allergies. Recent data on peanut allergies will be presented, as well as the rationale for the early introduction of peanuts in various risk groups, rather than focusing solely on the high-risk population. The relevance of the early introduction of cow milk protein (within the first weeks of life) for reducing the risk of cow milk allergies will also be discussed. However, many questions remain unanswered and further high-quality studies are needed.