Peanut allergies licked by babies

GIVING babies peanut butter could reduce peanut allergies by nearly 80 per cent, according to research.

Current advice is to let children eat peanuts from the age of one, as regularly consuming them can stop the immune system developing a potentially fatal sensitivity or allergy.

Now a team from the National Institute for Health and Care Research and King’s College London have analysed allergies in thousands of babies and found that peanut products – such as peanut butter – can be introduced earlier than previously thought. They found that at four to six months is most effective. Whole or broken peanuts were not recommended due to risk of choking. Following this rule could reduce peanut allergies in the UK by 77 per cent, compared with 33 per cent if parents wait until the child is one.