FDA to Permit Baby Food Allergy-Reduction Claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the approval of a qualified health claim that baby food with ground peanuts can reduce the development of peanut allergies. On the labels of foods suitable for infant consumption that contain ground peanuts, companies can now include the claim that “for most infants with severe eczema and/or egg allergy who are already eating solid foods, introducing foods containing ground peanuts between 4 and 10 months of age and continuing consumption may reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy by 5 years of age.”

“The new claim on food labels will recommend that parents check with their infant’s healthcare provider before introducing foods containing ground peanuts. It will also note that the claim is based on one study,” Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a September 7, 2017, statement. “The FDA will continue to monitor the research related to peanut allergy. If new scientific information further informs what we know about peanut allergy, the FDA will evaluate whether the claim should be updated.”