The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Guideline for infant feeding for food allergy prevention has been updated as a collaboration between the ASCIA, the National Allergy Council, the National Allergy Centre of Excellence, the Centre for Food Allergy Research and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, with funding from the Australian Government, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
What advice has changed?
As a result of new research, the following changes have been included in the new ASCIA Guideline:
- A recommendation to offer well-cooked egg soon after the baby has started eating solid food. Well-cooked egg should be offered in a form that is appropriate for the baby’s feeding development.
- A recommendation to offer peanut soon after the baby has started eating solid food. Peanut should be offered in a form that is appropriate for the baby’s feeding development.
- A recommendation to continue to feed the food to the baby at least once a week once introduced. This is to help babies to continue to tolerate the food once introduced.
- Recommendations regarding infant formulas based on alternative proteins, for example, rice.
- Recommendations regarding the temporary use of milk-based infant formula in the first weeks of a baby’s life.
- Guidance on what to do if a baby has a rash around their mouth after eating a food.
What advice has not changed?
The following advice remains the same:
- Breastfeeding should continue for as long as the mother and baby wish to continue.
- Solid foods should be offered to babies when they are showing signs of being developmentally ready, usually around 6 months of age and not before 4 months.
- Only introduce one new common allergy causing food in the same meal. If a reaction occurs, this allows the problem food to be more easily known.
- All other common allergy causing foods should be introduced in the first year of life with a focus on the foods that are usually eaten by the family.
- Food should not be smeared on a baby’s skin to test if they are allergic to the food.
- It is not necessary to remove common allergy causing foods from the mother’s diet if she is breastfeeding.
- Hydrolysed infant formula is not recommended for preventing food allergy.
- Soy-based infant formula is not recommended for preventing food allergy.
View the published guideline: ASCIA Guideline: Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention.
