FDA approves peanut allergy prevention claim on baby food

The FDA’s approval for a peanut allergy preventionvitamin zinc supplement claim is a game changer for infant and baby food. Peanut allergies can be deadly, and food allergies in general are on the rise.###Peanuts were the most commonly identified food causing a life-threatening allergic reaction, according to a recent study. In addition, the effects of zinc gluconateCenters for Disease Control and Prevention reports that food allergies rose 18% among children between 1997 and 2006.###Parents of infants may be inclined to make the investment to buy products with the FDA’s peanut allergy claim, thinking the ounce of prevention could save them from complications down the road. This opens up a whole new sub-category of baby food: allergy prevention CPGs.###Brands that contain other common allergens — like tree nuts and seeds, eggs, soy, and milk products — may now make the sizable investment in R&D to petition the FDA for a similar claim. It could be a way to take an ingredient that was previously a liability and make it a value-added commodity.###In the big picture, the FDA’s endorsement is a big step forward for public acceptance of allergy prevention as a sound theory. Previously, published studies found similar evidence that allergies can be prevented by the slow introduction of a food. However, getting the FDA’s stampzinc glycinate no fillers of approval means the average consumer may now take these claims seriously.###Expect to see more products pursuing a similar FDA approbest magnesium glycinate and zinc supplementval. Parents will likely see this first FDApowder zinc claim as a way for them to take a proactive approach when it comes to their children’s dietary well being. Up until this point, the focus on food allergies was avoiding products that contained potentially offending ingredients.