Muristek
The potential to prevent food allergy has been a topic of increasing interest over the past 40 to 50 years. Studies on this topic date back to at least 1936, and a series of studies in the 1980s and 1990s produced inconsistent, but often compelling, data on the potential benefits of breastfeeding, specialized infant formulas, or delaying introduction of allergenic foods. Based on this body of evidence, as well as substantial expert opinion, a guideline by the American Academy of Pediatrics published in 2000 recommended the use of hydrolyzed formulas and delayed introduction of allergenic foods, including peanut, until the age of 3 years. However, expert opinion turned out to be wrong and some of the most persuasive studies were subsequently retracted as fraudulent. As new data emerged and the prevalence of food allergy continued to increase, the 2000 guidelines were replaced by updated recommendations in 2008 that essentially left these decisions “to personal and family preference,” because the available evidence was insufficient to justify any specific guidelines.
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