Why Delaying Nuts and Eggs in Your Child’s Diet Could Raise Food Allergy Risks: Insights for Parents

On June 11, 2025, a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition caught attention regarding the introduction of allergenic foods to infants. The research shows that while many babies try these foods around 6 to 9 months, eggs and nuts are often introduced much later, sometimes after their first birthday.

Suzannah Helps and her team at the University of Portsmouth looked into how eating habits vary, especially among infants with a family history of allergies. They surveyed parents about their babies’ diets when the infants were around 6 months, again at 12 months, and then checked in at 24 months.

The results revealed that 21% of children had not tried eggs and 35% had not tried nuts by their first birthday. Interestingly, having a family history of allergies didn’t predict whether allergenic foods were introduced late. Instead, these families tended to avoid certain foods altogether, like dairy and soy, possibly due to allergy concerns.

Helps emphasized the importance of sharing these findings. “Delayed introduction of these foods continues to contribute to the allergy epidemic,” she said. This point aligns with findings from other studies that link early exposure to allergenic foods with a lower risk of developing allergies later on.

Recent data from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology supports this idea, stating that introducing allergenic foods early can help build tolerance. It’s vital for parents to consider these recommendations to help safeguard their children’s health.

You can read the full study here.

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