Route and timing of exposure to food allergens in early life

This programme of work builds upon previous work conducted by the Agency and aims to investigate how the early life environment, and particular dietary and non-dietary exposures to allergenic foods, might influence the development of sensitisation to food allergens.

This will help to identify those at risk of developing food allergy, to inform future preventative strategies and to advise consumers.

More in this section

  • Importance of skin exposure to allergens in the development of food allergy (ongoing)

    Friday 12 March 2010

    This study aims to find out whether abnormal skin barrier function predates and predicts food allergen sensitisation and whether the link between skin barrier function and food allergen sensitisation is driven by loss-of-function mutations in the FLG (Filaggrin) protein

  • EAT Study: early introduction of allergenic foods to induce tolerance (ongoing)

    Monday 7 January 2008

    The EAT Study is testing the hypothesis that introducing allergenic foods to infants diets from three months of age leads to a reduction in food allergies by three years of age. This will help us understand how the timing and pattern of the introduction of allergenic foods affects the development of allergies. It doesn’t alter current Government advice on breastfeeding and weaning (link below).

  • Literature review early exposure to food allergens and development of food allergy

    Sunday 14 October 2007

    This research reviewed all published scientific literature relevant to early life patterns of exposure or avoidance to major food allergens and the development of food allergy in children, since the COT advice was issued in 1998. The findings of this research assisted the Agency in reviewing this precautionary advice.

  • Peanut allergy: routes of pre-natal and post-natal exposure

    Tuesday 14 September 2004

    This research project is a retrospective case controlled study investigating the role of infant's environmental peanut exposure on later allergy.