Health Promotion of Early and Sustained Allergenic Food Introduction for the Prevention of Food Allergy

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 Jul;12(7):1670-1683.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2024.05.028. Epub 2024 May 23.

Abstract

Observational studies and landmark randomized control trials support early and sustained allergenic food introduction in infancy as an effective preventive strategy against food allergy development. Despite a consensus regarding the intended goals of early and sustained allergenic food introduction, there have been myriad policy recommendations among health authorities in how to achieve both individual and population-level health outcomes for food allergy prevention. This clinical management review provides an overview on the data that informs early and sustained allergenic food introduction strategies, suggestions on how to advise allergenic food introduction, principles of prevention programs as they relate to food allergy prevention, and health promotion and systems-level challenges that impede achievement of food allergy prevention goals.

Keywords: Food allergy; Food allergy prevention; Health promotion; Market failure; Overdiagnosis; Risk appraisal; Screening.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Allergens* / immunology
  • Food
  • Food Hypersensitivity* / prevention & control
  • Health Promotion* / methods
  • Humans
  • Infant

Substances

  • Allergens