According to Paul Hannaway, author of On the Nature of Food Allergy, “If you add up the direct and indirect costs of food allergy and anaphylaxis, it is a billion dollar disease.”

Theories abound, and in all likelihood there are many reasons for the emerging epidemic. But in a nutshell (no pun intended), research suggests that avoidance of common inhalant or food allergens may actually be counter-productive.

According to an article in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, a group of Canadian researchers, utilizing a population database of 13,980 children, investigated the risk of food allergy in premature or low birth weight children. After controlling for factors associated with food allergy, including high income, maternal history of asthma or food allergy, male gender, and urban location, the authors found no association between prematurity or low birth weight and an increased risk of food allergy.

The results of the study call into question the theory that large molecular weight proteins can pass through an immature gastrointestinal tract more readily and increase the risk of food allergy, and lend support to the theory that early exposure to food antigens may protect premature infants by increasing immune tolerance.

Says Hannaway, “The bottom line: at the present time, there is no way to prevent food allergy other than by avoiding the offending food. Gene therapy is a long way off. Controlling food intake during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and in early childhood does not seem to be the answer. Probiotic therapy needs more study. The most promising approaches might be to tweak the immune system with an earlier introduction of solid foods, anti IgE therapy, peptide injections, oral desensitization, or Chinese herbal therapy.”

Pass the peanuts, please.