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Background: Elimination diets required for the management of food allergies increase the risk for poor growth in children. Currently, no worldwide data exist on this topic and limited published data exist on the impact of atopic comorbidity, type of allergy and foods eliminated on growth. We therefore set out to perform a worldwide survey on growth and impacting factors in food allergic children. Methods: A prospective growth survey was performed of children (aged 0–16 years) on an elimination diet with confirmed immunoglobulin (Ig)E and non‐IgE mediated food allergies. Data collected included: weight‐for‐age, weight‐for‐height, height‐for‐age, head circumference, body mass index, type of food allergy and eliminated foods, allergic comorbidities and replacement milk/breast milk. Multivariable regression analysis was used to establish factors that affected growth. Results: Data from 430 patients from twelve allergy centres were analysed: median age at diagnosis and data collection was 8 months and 23 months, respectively. Pooled data indicated that 6% were underweight, 9% were stunted, 5% were undernourished and 8% were overweight. Cow's milk elimination lead to a lower weight‐for‐height Z‐scores than other food eliminations and mixed IgE and non‐IgE mediated allergy had lower height‐for‐age Z‐scores than IgE mediated allergy. Children with only non‐IgE mediated allergies had lower weight‐for‐height and body mass index. Atopic comorbidities did not impact on growth. Conclusions: Stunting is more common in children with food allergies than low weight. Children particularly at risk of poor growth are those with non‐IgE and mixed IgE and non‐IgE mediated allergies, as well as those with cow's milk allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common presentations of food allergy in early childhood. Management of CMA involves individualized avoidance of cow's milk and other mammalian milk and foods containing these. Optimal elimination of cow's milk avoidance includes: label reading; information about safe and nutritious substitute foods; appropriate choice of infant formula or a plant-based food; establishing tolerance to baked milk and monitoring nutritional intake and growth. Substitute formulas are divided into soy formula (not hydrolyzed), milk-based extensively hydrolyzed formulas, rice based extensive, and partially hydrolyzed formulas and amino acid-based formulas. The use of other mammalian milks is not recommended for the management of cow's milk allergy due to a high level of cross-reactivity and nutritional concerns. For toddlers who are eating well, children, and adults, a suitable plant-based beverage may be a suitable alternative to a specialized formula, following careful nutritional considerations. Families need to be instructed on finding suitable nutritious foods and how to prepare suitable meals at home. Individuals with CMA also need to know how to identify and treat acute severe reactions., Competing Interests: CV reports grants from Reckitt Benckiser, grants from Food Allergy Research and Education, grants from National Peanut Board, during the conduct of the study; and personal fees from Reckitt Benckiser, Nestle Nutrition Institute, Danone, Abbott Nutrition, Else Nutrition, and Before Brands, outside the submitted work. RM reports speaker honoraria and advisory panel consultancy outside of the submitted work for Nutricia/Danone, Abbott Nutrition, Nestle Clinical Nutrition, Reckitt Benckiser and Else Nutrition. MG reports royalties from UpToDate and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and consulting fees from FARE. AF reports speaker honoraria and advisory panel consultancy outside the submitted work for Nutricia, Abbott, Danone, Stallergenes, DBV, Novartis; and funded research (Institution) from Sanofi, Novartis, Ferrero, DBV, GSK, Astrazeneca, Hipp GmBDH, Humana SpA., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Objective: To characterize the awareness of, adherence to, and barriers to the 2017 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) peanut allergy prevention guidelines among the pediatrics health care workforce., Study Design: Pediatricians, family physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), and dermatologists who provide care for infants were solicited for a population-based online survey, administered from June 6, 2022, through July 3, 2022. The survey collected information about NIAID guideline awareness, implementation, and barriers as well as concerns related to the guidelines., Results: A total of 250 pediatricians, 250 family physicians, 504 APPs, and 253 dermatologists met inclusion criteria. Self-reported guideline awareness was significantly higher for pediatricians (76%) compared with dermatologists (58%), family physicians (52%), and APPs (45%) (P < .05). Among participants who were aware of the guidelines, most reported using part or all of the guidelines in their clinical practices. Reported practice patterns for peanut introduction in 6-month-old infants were variable and did not always align with guidelines, particularly for infants with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis., Conclusions: Although pediatricians have the highest self-reported level of NIAID guideline awareness, awareness was suboptimal irrespective of provider type. Education for all pediatric clinicians is urgently needed to promote evidence-based peanut allergy prevention practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy is a reasonable treatment option, barriers to this procedure's implementation have not been extensively evaluated from a patient perspective., Objective: We evaluated the barriers patients face during OIT administration, including anxiety and taste aversion, and the role of health care professionals, especially dietitians., Methods: A survey in Canada and the United States involved families currently enrolled in food OIT programs., Results: Of responses from 379 participants, fear of reaction was the most common barrier to OIT initiation, with 45.6% reporting it being a "very significant" barrier with other fears reported. However, taste aversion represented the prominent obstacle to continuation. Taste aversion was associated with a slower buildup (P = .02) and a reduction in dose (P = .002). Taste aversion was a strongly age-dependent barrier for initiation (P < .001) and continuation (P < .002), with older children over 6 years of age reporting it as a very significant barrier (P < .001). Boredom was reported as a concern for specific allergens such as peanut, egg, sesame, and hazelnuts (P < .05), emphasizing the need for diverse food options. Notably, 59.9% of respondents mixed OIT foods with sweet items. Despite these dietary concerns, dietitians were underutilized, with only 9.5% of respondents having seen a dietitian and the majority finding dietitian support helpful with greater certainty about the exact dose (P < .001)., Conclusions: Taste aversion and anxiety represent primary patient-related barriers to OIT. Taste aversion was highly age dependent, with older patients being more affected. Dietitians and psychology support were underutilized, representing a critical target to improve adherence and OIT success., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated food allergy-driven disease characterized by eosinophilic inflammation of the esophagus leading to symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. Prior studies have supported the key role of food allergen exposure as the main driver behind the etiopathogenesis showing that removal of food antigens can result in disease remission in both children and adults. These landmark studies serve as the basis for the rising interest and evolution of dietary therapy in EoE. This article will focus on the rationale for dietary therapy in EoE and provide helpful tools for the implementation of dietary therapy in practice., Competing Interests: Disclosure N. Gonsalves: Consultant for AstraZeneca, Allakos, BMS, Sanofi-Regeneron; Speaking: Sanofi-Regeneron. M. Groetch: Received royalties from UpToDate and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and consulting fees from FARE; Serves on the Medical Advisory Board of the International Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome Association as a Senior Advisor to FARE, as a Health Sciences Advisor for APFED, and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Food Allergy; and has no commercial interests to disclose. A. Lucendo: Consultant for Dr Falk Pharma and EsoCap., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Food allergies are common and are associated with substantial morbidity; the only approved treatment is oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy., Methods: In this trial, we assessed whether omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, would be effective and safe as monotherapy in patients with multiple food allergies. Persons 1 to 55 years of age who were allergic to peanuts and at least two other trial-specified foods (cashew, milk, egg, walnut, wheat, and hazelnut) were screened. Inclusion required a reaction to a food challenge of 100 mg or less of peanut protein and 300 mg or less of the two other foods. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive omalizumab or placebo administered subcutaneously (with the dose based on weight and IgE levels) every 2 to 4 weeks for 16 to 20 weeks, after which the challenges were repeated. The primary end point was ingestion of peanut protein in a single dose of 600 mg or more without dose-limiting symptoms. The three key secondary end points were the consumption of cashew, of milk, and of egg in single doses of at least 1000 mg each without dose-limiting symptoms. The first 60 participants (59 of whom were children or adolescents) who completed this first stage were enrolled in a 24-week open-label extension., Results: Of the 462 persons who were screened, 180 underwent randomization. The analysis population consisted of the 177 children and adolescents (1 to 17 years of age). A total of 79 of the 118 participants (67%) receiving omalizumab met the primary end-point criteria, as compared with 4 of the 59 participants (7%) receiving placebo (P<0.001). Results for the key secondary end points were consistent with those of the primary end point (cashew, 41% vs. 3%; milk, 66% vs. 10%; egg, 67% vs. 0%; P<0.001 for all comparisons). Safety end points did not differ between the groups, aside from more injection-site reactions in the omalizumab group., Conclusions: In persons as young as 1 year of age with multiple food allergies, omalizumab treatment for 16 weeks was superior to placebo in increasing the reaction threshold for peanut and other common food allergens. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03881696.)., (Copyright © 2024 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Purpose of Review: Precautionary allergen labeling (PAL) suggests the risk of unintended allergen presence (UAP) in food but is unregulated in most countries and inconsistently applied by food manufacturers. This review evaluates the current use of PAL, its relevance to allergic consumers, and weighs possible advantages and disadvantages of avoiding products with PAL., Recent Findings: In most countries, manufacturers are free to decide whether, when, and how to apply PAL resulting in inconsistencies and consumer confusion. Patients with food allergy often interpret PAL incorrectly and without guidance from their health care providers. Health care providers are also prone to misinterpreting PAL, indicating a need for better education. Consumers desire guidance on whether to avoid products with PAL or not. Until further regulatory guidance is available, shared decision-making between patient and provider is required to offer individualized, rather than one-size-fits-all, approaches to PAL., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Food allergies affect growth in children by decreasing the availability of nutrients through decreased dietary intake, increased dietary needs, food-medication interactions, and psychosocial burden. Guidelines on food allergy management frequently recommend nutrition counseling and growth monitoring of children with food allergies., Objective: To provide clear guidance for clinicians to identify children with food allergies who are at nutritional risk and ensure prompt intervention., Methods: We provide a narrative review summarizing information from national and international guidelines, retrospective studies, population studies, review articles, case reports, and case series to identify those with food allergy at greatest nutritional risk, determine the impact of nutritional interventions on growth, and develop guidance for risk reduction in children with food allergies., Results: Children with food allergies are at increased risk of nutritional deficiencies and poor growth. Nutritional assessment and intervention can improve outcomes. Identifying poor growth is an important step in the nutrition assessment. Therefore, growth should be assessed at each allergy evaluation. Interventions to ensure adequate dietary intake for growth include appropriately prescribed elimination diets, breast-feeding support and assessment, supplemental formula, vitamin and/or mineral supplementation, appropriate milk substitutes, and timely introduction of nutrient-dense complementary foods. Access to foods of appropriate nutritional value is an ongoing concern., Conclusion: Nutrition intervention or referral to registered dietitian nutritionists with additional training and/or experience in food allergy may result in improved growth and nutrition outcomes., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

For food-allergic patients, hypoallergenic formulas (HFs) are medically indicated, often a primary component of the diet and essential for patient safety, health, nutrition, and overall well-being. Yet, food allergy is not included among the conditions mandated for coverage under federal health programs and private health insurance. The 2022 infant formula crisis has affected many North American families and has particularly influenced patients with food allergies who rely on a limited number of safe HF brands to safely meet their nutritional needs for growth and development. The current formula shortage further highlights the longstanding difficulties faced by families with food allergies in accessing HF. Within this context, this article focuses on chronic barriers faced by patients with food allergies in accessing HF and proposes potential solutions. Legislation is desperately needed to address HF affordability through changes in insurance reimbursement and disparities in access to HF among individuals with food allergy., (Copyright © 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Food allergy (FA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) are common conditions that often present in the first year of life. Identification of underlying mechanisms and environmental determinants of FA and AD is essential to develop and implement effective prevention and treatment strategies. Objectives: We sought to describe the design of the Systems Biology of Early Atopy (SunBEAm) birth cohort., Methods: Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and administered through the Consortium for Food Allergy Research (CoFAR), SunBEAm is a US population-based, multicenter birth cohort that enrolls pregnant mothers, fathers, and their newborns and follows them to 3 years. Questionnaire and biosampling strategies were developed to apply a systems biology approach to identify environmental, immunologic, and multiomic determinants of AD, FA, and other allergic outcomes., Results: Enrollment is currently underway. On the basis of an estimated FA prevalence of 6%, the enrollment goal is 2500 infants. AD is defined on the basis of questionnaire and assessment, and FA is defined by an algorithm combining history and testing. Although any FA will be recorded, we focus on the diagnosis of egg, milk, and peanut at 5 months, adding wheat, soy, cashew, hazelnut, walnut, codfish, shrimp, and sesame starting at 12 months. Sampling includes blood, hair, stool, dust, water, tape strips, skin swabs, nasal secretions, nasal swabs, saliva, urine, functional aspects of the skin, and maternal breast milk and vaginal swabs., Conclusions: The SunBEAm birth cohort will provide a rich repository of data and specimens to interrogate mechanisms and determinants of early allergic outcomes, with an emphasis on FA, AD, and systems biology., Competing Interests: DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Funded by the following grants from NIAID/National Institutes of Health (NIH): UM2AI130836, UM1AI130838, UM1AI130839, UM1AI130781, UM1AI130936, UM1AI130936, UM1AI130780, UM1AI130934, UM1AI130570, UM1AI173380, UM1AI151958, and UM1AI109565. The authorships of P.C.F., A.T., W.D., S.H., and S.P. do not constitute endorsement by the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases, the National Institutes of Health, or any other agency of the United States government. Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: C. Keet reports royalties from UpToDate. S. H. Sicherer reports royalty payments from UpToDate and Johns Hopkins University Press; grants to his institution from NIAID, Food Allergy Research and Education, and Pfizer; personal fees from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology; and deputy editorship of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, outside of the submitted work. C. M. Davis reports grant support from NIAID/NIH, Immune Tolerance Network, DBV Technologies, Regeneronm Pfizer, and Allergenis; and consultant for Aimmune. S. Anvari reports research support from NIAID/NIH and DBV Technologies; and serves on the advisory board for Sanofi. M. Groetch receives royalties from UpToDate, FARE, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; serves on the medical advisory board of IFPIES, as senior advisor to FARE, and as health sciences advisor for APFED; and sits on the editorial board of Journal of Food Allergy. W. Shreffler reports royalty payments from UpToDate; grants to his institution from NIAID and Food Allergy Research and Education; sponsored research funds from Aimune, Angany Therapeutics, Moderna, Regeneron, Vedanta Biosciences and consultant fees from Aimmune, ALK, Allergy Therapeutics, Novartis, Regeneron, and Sanofi. Dr. Leung reports support from Sanofi, Genentech, Leo Pharma, and Incyte. H. Kim reports advisory board for ALK, Kenota Health, and Ukko Inc; consultant for Allergy Therapeutics Ltd, Belhaven Biopharma, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Genentech, and Nutricia. J. Wang receives research support from NIAID, Aimmune, DBV Technologies, and Regeneron; and consultancy fees from ALK Abello and Jubilant HollisterStier. R. A. Wood reports research support from NIAID, Aimmune, Astellas, DBV, FARE, Genentech, HAL-Allergy, Novartis, and Regeneron; and royalties from UpToDate. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest.

The role of nutrition is increasingly recognized in the management of chronic immune diseases. However, the role of an immune-supportive diet as adjuvant therapy in the management of allergic disease has not been similarly explored. This review assesses the existing evidence for a relationship between nutrition, immune function, and allergic disease from a clinical perspective. In addition, the authors propose an immune-supportive diet to enhance dietary interventions and complementing other therapeutic options for allergic disease from early life to adulthood. A narrative review of the literature was conducted, to determine the evidence of the relationship between nutrition and immune function, overall health, epithelial barrier function, and gut microbiome, particularly in relation to allergy. Studies on food supplements were excluded. The evidence was assessed and utilized to develop a sustainable immune-supportive diet to complement other therapies in allergic disease. The proposed diet consists of a highly diverse range of fresh, whole, and minimally processed plant-based and fermented foods supplemented with moderate amounts of nuts, omega-3-rich foods and animal-based products in proportional amounts of the EAT-Lancet diet, such as (fatty) fish, (fermented) milk products which may be full-fat and eggs, lean meat or poultry, which may be free-range or organic., (© 2023 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Patients with food allergy may be advised to introduce specific foods into their diets, both to increase tolerance gradually and as next steps after completing oral immunotherapy or other therapeutic interventions. However, the safe use of retail foods depends on the ability to establish the specific allergen protein content of these foods., Objective: To develop a systematic approach to estimate the protein content of peanut, milk, egg, wheat, cashew, hazelnut, and walnut in a variety of retail food equivalents for each allergen and associated patient education materials., Method: We created an algorithm that used a multistep process with information from product food labels, nutrient databases, independent weighing and measuring of foods, and information provided by manufacturers, including certificates of analysis, and e-mail communication to estimate the allergen protein content of multiple retail foods for each of seven allergens. Once a variety of retail food equivalents for each allergen and allergen serving size was determined, we developed participant education handouts, which were reviewed by study teams at 10 food allergy centers, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Consortium for Food Allergy Research coordinating center. After 1 year of use, multiple queries were addressed and the retail food equivalents and educational materials were reviewed and edited., Results: We identified a variety of retail food equivalents for seven allergens at six serving sizes, and created 48 unique patient education materials., Conclusion: Our results provide extensive guidance on a variety of retail equivalents for seven foods, and a method to estimate retail food protein equivalents systematically with ongoing reassessment., (Copyright © 2022 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. All rights reserved.)

Background: There is significant overdiagnosis of milk allergy in young children in some countries, leading to unnecessary use of specialized formula. This guidance, developed by experts without commercial ties to the formula industry, aims to reduce milk allergy overdiagnosis and support carers of children with suspected milk allergy., Methods: Delphi study involving two rounds of anonymous consensus building and an open meeting between January and July 2021. Seventeen experts in general practice, nutrition, midwifery, health visiting, lactation support and relevant areas of paediatrics participated, located in Europe, North America, Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia. Five authors of previous milk allergy guidelines and seven parents provided feedback., Findings: Participants agreed on 38 essential recommendations through consensus. Recommendations highlighted the importance of reproducibility and specificity for diagnosing milk allergy in children with acute or delayed symptoms temporally related to milk protein ingestion; and distinguished between children directly consuming milk protein and exclusively breastfed infants. Consensus was reached that maternal dietary restriction is not usually necessary to manage milk allergy, and that for exclusively breastfed infants with chronic symptoms, milk allergy diagnosis should only be considered in specific, rare circumstances. Consensus was reached that milk allergy diagnosis does not need to be considered for stool changes, aversive feeding or occasional spots of blood in stool, if there is no temporal relationship with milk protein ingestion. When compared with previous guidelines, these consensus recommendations resulted in more restrictive criteria for detecting milk allergy and a more limited role for maternal dietary exclusions and specialized formula., Interpretation: These new milk allergy recommendations from non-conflicted, multidisciplinary experts advise narrower criteria, more prominent support for breastfeeding and less use of specialized formula, compared with current guidelines., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical & Experimental Allergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Although research in oral immunotherapy for food allergy is perceived primarily as a biomedical endeavor, the involvement of multiple disciplines is required to ensure optimum outcomes for patients and their caregivers. This is a narrative review of research in which we also provide expert opinion due to the small number of studies addressing the role of dietitians and psychologists in oral immunotherapy to foods. Dietitians support patient education with instructions on how to measure and prepare the immunotherapy dose, incorporate the dose into the daily diet, and transition to equivalent foods to meet dosing needs. Dietitians play an important role in assessing the impact of oral immunotherapy on nutritional health. Psychological distress in food allergy is largely driven by the persistent fear of an adverse reaction, therefore the principal objective of food allergy treatment is to improve patient outcomes, e.g., quality of life. Psychologists must be involved in the design of patient related outcome measures in clinical trials to inform clinical decision-making and health-care policy; an important step in selecting and supporting patients who will benefit most from a particular treatment. Psychologists and dietitians can play a critical role during all phases of oral immunotherapy to foods., (Copyright © 2022, The Author(s). Published by OceanSide Publications, Inc., U.S.A.)

Objective: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy with potential risk of malnutrition related to the early onset of disease, frequent avoidance of cow's milk, and the possibility of multiple food triggers. This publication is aimed at providing an evidence-based, practical approach to the dietary management of FPIES., Data Sources: This is a narrative review summarizing information from national and international guidelines, retrospective studies, population studies, review articles, case reports, and case series to evaluate for nutritional risk and develop guidance for risk reduction in children with FPIES., Study Selections: We have included retrospective clinical cohort studies, population-based studies, case reports, and case studies. We did not exclude any studies identified owing to the small number of studies addressing the nutritional management of individuals with FPIES., Results: Children with FPIES are at risk of malnutrition owing to suboptimal oral intake, limited food choices, and knowledge deficits related to feeding. In particular, children with 3 or more FPIES triggers seem to be at increased risk for poor weight gain and developing food aversion. Caregivers of children with FPIES also report a high degree of psychosocial burden., Conclusion: Appropriate dietary management entails the following 3 essential components: supporting normal growth and development, avoidance of allergens, and advancement of complementary foods. Education to avoid the trigger food and assisting caregivers in creating an individualized, well-designed complementary feeding plan to meet the infant's nutritional needs for optimal growth and development are essential management strategies., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Worldwide food allergy prevalence is increasing, especially in children. Food allergy management strategies include appropriate avoidance measures and identifying suitable alternatives for a nutritionally sound diet. Individualized dietary intervention begins teaching label reading, which differs among countries or regions. Dietary intervention must result in a nutritionally sound plan including alternatives to support optimal growth and development. Inappropriate or incomplete dietary advice may increase the risk of adverse reactions, growth faltering, and nutrient deficiencies. Evidence indicates input from a registered dietitian improves nutritional outcomes. Nutritional input plays a critical role managing nutritional disorders related to food allergy., Competing Interests: Disclosure Conflicts of interest: R. Durban has received consultancy fees from AstraZeneca and Mead Johnson Nutrition, and lecture fees from Abbott, Nutricia North America, and Mead Johnson Nutrition. M. Groetch has no commercial interests to disclose. S. Coleman is a consultant to the National Peanut Board. W. Elverson has received an educational grant and consulting fees from Nutricia Danone. V. McWilliam has received lecture fees for Aspen Global, Abbott Australasia, and Nestle Health Sciences, and consultancy fees from Nestle and Nutricia outside the submitted work. R. Meyer has completed academic lectures for Danone/Nutricia, Abbott, Mead Johnson, and Nestle, and received an academic grant from Danone. M. Netting’s research team receives research funding from Nestlé Nutrition Institute. B. Vlieg–Boerstra received research funding from Nutricia, and consulting or speaker’s fees from Marfo Food groups, Nutricia, and Abbott. C. Venter has provided and reviewed educational material for Danone, Recktrt Benckiser, Abbott Nutrition, DBV technologies, and the Nestle Nutrition Institute., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Guidelines on the early introduction of allergen-containing foods are evolving; however, little national data exist defining current allergen-feeding practices., Objective: To investigate the consumption rates of foods containing egg and peanut among infants and toddlers before the guideline changes in 2017., Methods: The Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2016 was conducted nationally among 3235 caregivers with a child under 4 years of age. The 24-hour dietary recalls were reviewed for peanut or egg ingredients. Participants were categorized as "consuming peanut or egg-containing foods" or "not consuming peanut or egg-containing foods." Data on physician-diagnosed food allergies and avoidance were collected., Results: The consumption rates of peanut- and egg-containing foods were low. For the age group of 4 to 5.9 months, 0.3% reported peanut consumption and 2.4% reported egg consumption. For the age group of 6 to 8.9 months, 0.9% reported eating peanut-containing foods and 13.0% egg, and for the age group of 9 to 11.9 months, 5.5% were consuming peanut-containing foods and 33.2% egg-containing foods. Peanut or egg ingredients were identified in the diet of children whose caregivers reported avoidance., Conclusion: Before the publication of the 2017 Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy, there were low rates of reported peanut consumption across the study population with less than 1% of any age group before 9 months of age and less than 6% in any age group before 12 months of age consuming peanut on the 24-hour recall day. In addition, reported egg consumption was low and increased with age. These results serve as an important baseline comparison for future studies evaluating the implementation and impact of early peanut and egg introduction., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Recently published data from high-impact randomized controlled trials indicate the strong potential of strategies to prevent the development of food allergy in high-risk individuals, but guidance in the United States at present is limited to a policy for only the prevention of peanut allergy, despite other data being available and several other countries advocating early egg and peanut introduction. Eczema is considered the highest risk factor for developing IgE-mediated food allergy, but children without risk factors still develop food allergy. To prevent peanut and/or egg allergy, both peanut and egg should be introduced around 6 months of life, but not before 4 months. Screening before introduction is not required, but may be preferred by some families. Other allergens should be introduced around this time as well. Upon introducing complementary foods, infants should be fed a diverse diet, because this may help foster prevention of food allergy. There is no protective benefit from the use of hydrolyzed formula in the first year of life against food allergy or food sensitization. Maternal exclusion of common allergens during pregnancy and/or lactation as a means to prevent food allergy is not recommended. Although exclusive breast-feeding is universally recommended for all mothers, there is no specific association between exclusive breast-feeding and the primary prevention of any specific food allergy., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Recent randomized controlled trials aimed at the prevention of food allergy have led to sweeping changes in food allergy prevention guidelines. Emphasis is now on the introduction of potential food allergens, particularly peanut and egg, rather than avoidance. Although guidelines recommend against delaying the introduction of other potential allergens, there remains little or no evidence of the benefit of their early introduction. Parents and physicians alike report a need for greater guidance and resources on early potential allergen introduction in the complementary feeding period. A thorough understanding of early introduction literature, current prevention guidelines, and infant nutrition will empower physicians to address patient needs and concerns both when advice is established as effective and where uncertainty remains. We discuss the state of the science, compare recommendations between guidelines, and provide practical options to introduce allergenic foods, alongside other complementary foods, within the first year of life. We include a review of the available literature, including review and suggestions of potential doses of food allergens, and the first published comparison of commercially available products and homemade early introduction foods to help clinicians support their patients. We address the nutritional, dietary, and practical considerations of introducing food allergens in the first year of life while adhering to infant feeding guidelines. Finally, given the limitations of existing guidelines, we review the need for shared decision-making between physicians and parents regarding early allergen introduction., (Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Food allergy is a significant public health concern, with a rising prevalence. Elimination diets remain the cornerstone of food allergy management, and they are not without nutritional risk. Children who avoid nutritionally important foods, such as milk or multiple foods allergens, may be at greater risk. Even adults with food allergies may encounter challenges to meet current recommended dietary guidelines for health and reduced risk of chronic disease. The type of food allergy disorder will also impact nutritional risk. A food allergy affects food choices, nutritional intake, and health; therefore, guidance to provide nutritionally appropriate substitutes within the context of the elimination diet is invaluable., (Copyright © 2020, The Author(s). Published by OceanSide Publications, Inc., U.S.A.)

Rationale: Allergic diseases are an increasing public health concern, and early life environment is critical to immune development. Maternal diet during pregnancy has been linked to offspring allergy risk. In turn, maternal diet is a potentially modifiable factor, which could be targeted as an allergy prevention strategy. In this systematic review, we focused on non-allergen-specific modifying factors of the maternal diet in pregnancy on allergy outcomes in their offspring., Methods: We undertook a systematic review of studies investigating the association between maternal diet during pregnancy and allergic outcomes (asthma/wheeze, hay fever/allergic rhinitis/seasonal allergies, eczema/atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergies, and allergic sensitization) in offspring. Studies evaluating the effect of food allergen intake were excluded. We searched three bibliographic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science) through February 26, 2019. Evidence was critically appraised using modified versions of the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool for intervention trials and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence methodological checklist for cohort and case-control studies and meta-analysis performed from RCTs., Results: We identified 95 papers: 17 RCTs and 78 observational (case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort) studies. Observational studies varied in design and dietary intakes and often had contradictory findings. Based on our meta-analysis, RCTs showed that vitamin D supplementation (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56-0.92) is associated with a reduced risk of wheeze/asthma. A positive trend for omega-3 fatty acids was observed for asthma/wheeze, but this did not reach statistical significance (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.45-1.08). Omega-3 supplementation was also associated with a non-significant decreased risk of allergic rhinitis (OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.56-1.04). Neither vitamin D nor omega-3 fatty acids were associated with an altered risk of AD or food allergy., Conclusions: Prenatal supplementation with vitamin D may have beneficial effects for prevention of asthma. Additional nutritional factors seem to be required for modulating the risk of skin and gastrointestinal outcomes. We found no consistent evidence regarding other dietary factors, perhaps due to differences in study design and host features that were not considered. While confirmatory studies are required, there is also a need for performing RCTs beyond single nutrients/foods., (© 2020 EAACI and John Wiley and Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd.)

Breastfeeding is currently recommended as the optimal source of nutrition to infants. However, there are several studies that have shown clinical IgE- and non-IgE-mediated reactions to foods in exclusively breastfeeding infants, specifically to cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish. Literature suggests that antigenic food proteins present in human milk can be found in substantial enough amounts to elicit clinical reactions in some, already-sensitized infants, including anaphylaxis, eczema exacerbation, and non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food-allergic syndromes. Diagnosis of food allergy in a breastfed infant and identification of the trigger foods in the mother's diet can be especially challenging in infants with delayed symptoms, such as eczema and gastrointestinal symptoms. Management is further complicated in infants with atopic dermatitis, who have increased caloric needs and therefore in whom nutrition is an extremely important factor for growth and development. One needs to balance possible benefits with risks of further food sensitization through the skin when foods are eliminated from their diets. We review here the literature on clinical presentation and evidence for food allergy in exclusively breastfed infants, including the presence of food antigens in human milk. Incorporating clinical experience and the available data, which largely come from case reports and small, nonrandomized studies performed in referral centers with several limitations, we propose a novel algorithm to diagnosis and management, with emphasis on nutritional considerations., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Oral food challenges are an integral part of an allergist's practice and are used to evaluate the presence or absence of allergic reactivity to foods. A work group within the Adverse Reactions to Foods Committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology was formed to update a previously published oral food challenge report. The intention of this document was to supplement the previous publication with additional focus on safety, treatment of IgE-mediated allergic reactions, guidance for challenges in infants and adults, psychosocial considerations for children and families participating in an oral food challenge, specific guidance for baked milk or baked egg challenges, masking agents and validated blinding recipes for common food allergens, and recommendations for conducting and interpreting challenges in patients with suspected food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome. Tables and figures within the report and an extensive online appendix detail age-specific portion sizes, appropriate timing for antihistamine discontinuation, serum and skin test result interpretation, written consents, and instructional handouts that may be used in clinical practice., (Copyright © 2019 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergic disorder that has gained a major interest the past decade. FPIES prevalence, which still needs to be accurately determine in different populations, appears to be higher than previously thought (ie up to 0.7% in infants in the 1st year of life). FPIES to seafood in adults is also increasingly reported; limited data suggest that adult FPIES is most commonly triggered by shellfish, tends to affect females more than men, is characterized by a significant delay in diagnosis and a prolonged course. The first international consensus guidelines on diagnosis and management of FPIES have been published in 2017, proposing new diagnostic criteria as well as new criteria for a positive oral food challenge. However, there is a need to develop new biomarkers to improve the diagnosis and management of FPIES patients, and this requires a better understanding of the pathophysiology. Recently, the role of T cells has been questioned and a major role of innate immune cells has been suggested in acute FPIES. Regarding the treatment of acute FPIES reaction, ondansetron has emerged as an adjunct to intravenous rehydration in moderate-severe reactions and as a first-line treatment in mild reactions. Important information regarding the nutritional management of FPIES patients that might be complex has also been provided in the international guidelines. In this review, we discuss recent advances regarding all those different aspects., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)