What is a food allergy?
A food allergy occurs when your bodies immune system overreacts by creating antibodies against a food protein (an allergen) . The 8 most common food allergens in U.S. are eggs, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, shellfish and fish1. It is required by FDA to include these allergens in the label. However, some potential allergens are not required to be mentioned seeds such as sesame and sunflower. My child is allergic to eggs, milk, tree nuts, peanuts, coconut (considered a tree nut), and sunflower. You can develop an allergy to anything at any point in your lifetime. I developed an allergy to kiwi and pomegranate at the age of 19.
Risk Factors?
Certain risk factors will help you spot if your kids are at high risk of developing an allergy. My 2nd kid had several allergies which automatically put my 3rd kid as a high risk. My husband and I both have allergies and have family members with allergies. Please note: just because you are allergic to something does not mean you are anaphylactic to that allergen. An allergic reaction is when your immune system reacts to a food item in an unpleasant way. Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate medical attention.
If your child has eczema or asthma research has shown that eczema, asthma, and food allergy tend to co-exist together, especially in kids with early onset. My 2nd child was born with eczema, had we taken the necessary precautions maybe we could have avoided potential allergies in her. If your child shows signs of eczema at an early age, oral exposure to potential food allergens is important to induce immunological tolerance[1]. Hence, when we found out that we were having our 3rd baby and realized he too had eczema and was high risk, I started researching to potentially find something I could to avoid it. I came across several companies that claimed to decrease the risk of allergies in kids with high risk and decided to give one of them a try in the hopes that it was the golden key.
Options for early introduction of food allergens.
There are several different companies that provide products to help you introduce allergens in your babies’ diet. Research shows that introducing allergens as early as 4-6 months is the key to reducing the risk. Below is the comparison of some of these companies that I came across during my research. It took a while for me to find all the information to make the choice for my family, I want to give you the unbiased information so you can make the right choice for you and your family. What to know what I choose and why? Click here!
| Ready. Set. Food. | Hello Peanuts! | Spoonfulone | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| Allergens included | Stage 1 & 2: Milk, Eggs, & Peanuts Stage 3: Rest of the top 6 allergens | Organic Peanuts (~ 25% of allergies) | Milk, Eggs, Peanuts, Shellfish (1), tree nuts (6), fish (2), Grains (2), soy, & sesame. (~ 90% of allergies) |
| Dosage of allergens |  | -1st packet contains 100 mg -Gradual increase in dosage for 7 days -Maintenance dose 2000 mg | -Each packet consists of all 16 allergens. -Exact mg not available |
| Cost per serving | ~ $1.00 | ~ $2.50 | ~ $3.00 |
| Age of administration | Starting at 4 months | -Sitter (6-8 months -Supported sitter (4-6 months) | 4- 6 months |
| Method of administration | Bottle or solid food | In apple sauce, yogurt or oatmeal. | Powder to mix into milk, puffs, & crackers |
| Additives | None | Organic oat flakes | Sugar, Natural flavors, & salt |
| Recommended use | Daily for 6 months, or until your baby regularly eats peanuts, eggs, & milk. | Maintenance dose 1-3 times per week | 1 packet daily for 3-5 years |
| FDA approved | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pros | -More affordable! -One food at a time: follows pediatric guidance to ensure babies get one allergen every 4 days -No additives -Very transparent about dosage -Mixes easily into milk -Available through Amazon | -Contains a large dose of peanuts | -Contains 16 different allergens -3 different options of administration -Available through amazon |
| Cons | More than one allergens introduced in stage 3 at once. | -Contains only peanuts -Not transparent enough about mg of peanuts -Only in food -Not available through Amazon | -Expensive -Not transparent enough about ingredients -More than one Allergens introduced at once -Too thick to mix into milk |
| Website | https://readysetfood.com/ | https://www.hello-peanut.com/ | https://www.spoonfulone.com/ |
References
- [1] Food Allergy Education & Research. Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) (website).
- [2] Worth A, Sheikh A. Food allergy and atopic eczema. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 Jun;10(3):226-30. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e3283387fae. PMID: 20375880.
Excellent information
Thank you!