28 Mar Hello, Peanut! Offers Simple, Controlled Solution for Peanut Introduction to Babies
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. David Erstein
Dr. David Erstein MD MPH
Founder of Assured Bites
Board certified allergist
MedicalResearch: What is the background for peanut allergy? Why is introducing peanuts to infants important?
Dr. Erstein: Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and is commonly associated with anaphylaxis, a sudden and potentially deadly condition. According to Food Allergy Research & Education, the number of children in the U.S. with a peanut allergy more than tripled between 1997 and 2008. For these reasons, peanut allergy is a hot topic and often studied condition.
There has been important emerging food allergy research including the highly publicized Immune Tolerance Network’s “Learning Early About Peanut” (LEAP) study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015 and the newly announced LEAP-On study presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) Annual Meeting this month. Contrary to previous guidelines, both LEAP studies advise parents of high risk infants that early and continued consumption of peanuts reduces the chance of peanut allergy development. An additional newly announced Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) study from the 2016 AAAAI annual meeting reported early consumption of peanuts benefits even the general population of infants from developing peanut allergies, not just high risk infants.
MedicalResearch: Can you tell us about Hello, Peanut!™? How may it reduce peanut allergies?
Dr. Erstein: Hello, Peanut! is the first-ever guided method for introducing peanuts to infants. It is the only product of its kind currently on the market for parents to offer a simple, controlled solution for peanut introduction to babies as young as 5 months, which, as the cutting edge medical research suggests reduces their chances of developing a peanut allergy.
The Hello, Peanut! Introduction System contains packets of peanut and sprouted oat blends designed to be mixed into pureed foods over seven days. The amount of peanut in each packet gradually increases daily. After this introductory phase, maintenance packets are recommended for use until the infant can eat peanut in spread or whole form. Hello, Peanut! does not require a prescription or administration by a physician and can be fed to babies at home.
MedicalResearch: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Dr. Erstein: Hello, Peanut! is USDA organic, non GMO, dairy free, and all natural. It’s geared toward the general infant population who have no known peanut allergies and is not designed to treat or cure peanut allergies. Parents of high risk infants (Egg allergy, eczema, and/or family history of food allergies) need to consult with their pediatrician prior to peanut introduction. Hello, Peanut! is FDA registered as an early introduction system and is pending FDA approval for its ability to prevent peanut allergies.
To find out more and purchase Hello, Peanut!, please visit www.hello-peanut.com.
[wysija_form id=”5″]
Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice or an endorsement. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.
More Medical Research Interviews on MedicalResearch.com
Last Updated on March 28, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD