Study: Letting Kids Eat Eggs to Avoid Egg Allergies Later

A new study shows that feeding infants eggs may reduce the risk of developing an egg allergy later.

In this study, researchers at the University of Buffalo, New York, analyzed US government data from more than 2,200 parents who were asked about their children’s eating habits and food allergies from birth through age 6.

Lead author Dr. Julia Marton, who is due to present the findings Sunday at a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said:ACAAI) in New Orleans.

Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Of the more than 2,200 parents surveyed, 0.6% reported an egg allergy in their one-year-old children, according to the study. Of the more than 1,400 parents who provided data on food allergies for their children up to 6 years of age, 0.8% reported an egg allergy at that age.

Researchers reported that children with an egg allergy at ages 1 and 6 ate fewer eggs at 5, 6, 7 and 10 months of age than those who weren’t allergic to them.

“Egg allergy is the second most common food allergy in the world,” lead author Dr. Xiaozhong Wen said in an ACAAI press release.

The present data indicate that early introduction of the egg in infancy, followed by consistent and frequent feedings, appears to protect against the development of egg allergy. We are always looking for the optimal timing for introducing the egg to the infant and the frequency of feeding it.”

Familiar allergy prevention strategy. As of 2017, allergists and pediatricians say that parents should introduce a peanut product to babies around the time they start eating solid foods to reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy.