I’ve heard it dozens of times. “Kids these days are allergic to everything. In my day we weren’t allergic to anything.” People share tales of the days when no one knew what gluten was. High praise goes to the first person who reminds everyone that they ate solely the food their mother put on the dinner table. Often these comments come in the wake of disbelief that food allergies have become a problem. The fact is the number of children with allergies are increasing at an alarming rate.
Last year the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) reported 2.5% of children in the United States are allergic to the peanut. The peanut allergy has increased by 21% since 2010. The steady increase raises questions about what is causing the problem. Speculation and scientific studies have produced causes that range in level of possibility. You could find theories on economic status playing a role or the lack of allergy testing in the past left us unaware of cases of allergies.
Critics of the peanut coverage suggest that the allergy is not as bad as it sounds. They believe surveys are incorrect and people report food sensitives as allergens. This would prove that the data is wrong, the media is the problem and the peanuts are under attack.
Dr. Robyn O’Brien has her own theories about allergens. She believes the food isn’t the problem, but “what we are doing to the food.” Whether you agree or not, proof exists of pesticides and other chemicals being used on peanuts.
Because the peanut is also a big target for little pests, peanuts are also one of the crops most heavily routinely saturated with pesticides. Most of the peanuts consumed in the U.S. are now one of the most pesticide-contaminated snacks we eat. The USDA Pesticide Data Program found 8 pesticides on peanut butter. Piperonyl butoxide was found 26.9% of the time.
Issues that have risen in the US over chemicals and genetically modified foods have sparked debates about allergies and obesity. However other factors play a role in children having food allergens. Infants who have not yet consumed a peanut can become high risk for developing an allergy. For example children who have atopic dermatitis (eczema) and other allergies such as milk or egg have a high chance of also developing a peanut allergy.
The speculation and the increasing numbers have led to hypotheses that take these other factors under consideration. Scientists who develop the studies hope that finding a cause can lead to a solution. The National Peanut Board, which consists of peanut farmers, has a site as a resource for parents and caregivers, peanutallergyfacts.org. Here Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN, LD, a member of the board, shared 5 of the most common hypotheses.
The hypotheses were listed as: the microbial hypothesis, allergen avoidance hypothesis, dual allergen exposure hypothesis, nutritional immunomodulation hypothesis, and other. Some possible causes were due to hygiene, avoiding the foods in question and even causes due to a connection to obesity.
One hypothesis was linked to a possible solution. Dual allergen exposure says that if your skin is exposed to the protein of the allergen before you ingest it you become sensitive to the allergen. This is true for those with broken skin caused by eczema (my nemesis). The hypothesis could explain why the connection between eczema and food allergens is such a strong one.
A way to avoid the development of the allergy is exposure to the peanut. This idea was explored during the LEAP study. LEAP is “Learning Early About Peanut Allergy,” a study funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The study found that by feeding children peanuts early on it prevented the development of a long term peanut allergy.
According to the NIH study, to avoid food allergies parents should feed allergenic food to their children from infancy. Pregnant women should also eat allergenic foods to aid in early exposure. This is to prevent infants from developing future allergens. Before the LEAP study allergists suggested that parents avoid allergenic foods as long as possible. Here is where I issue my usual disclaimer; check with your doctor or allergist first and find a plan that you think is right for you or your child.
A plan to take down the peanut industry does not exist. Parents, doctors, and peanut farmers all want to find out why this is happening. No one wishes for the days of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches more than a parent who wants their child to survive lunch. They hope that they won’t have to use the high priced epinephrine injection that the school may or may not have on hand. If we find out why the peanut wasn’t a problem back in “those days” we can find a way to solve the problem today.
