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MNHQ

Do you have a baby who is younger than 3 months of age? Take part in a research study on food allergies and help find a way to prevent them.

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TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 06/02/2012 15:49

In the UK approximately 6% of children will develop a food allergy. Some allergies are mild but others can be life threatening. The Government's Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have funded a study at Kings College London and St Thomas' Hospital to find out how to help prevent food allergy in young children, but they need help from parents with young babies. They've asked us to tell you about the study with the hope that some of you may be interested in taking part.

The EAT Study is testing the idea that the introduction of allergenic foods into the diet of babies from 3-4 months of age, alongside continued breastfeeding, results in fewer food allergies for toddlers. They want to hear from parents who are interested in getting involved. To be eligible to take part, you must:

~ have a child younger than 3 months
~ be exclusively breastfeeding (no formula or solid foods) and planning to continue for at least the first 3 months

If you're interested in taking part, or finding out more please check out the study's website here or email the study team ([email protected]). Please note that by contacting the study team, you're not committing to take part.

Also, if you have a child with a food allergy and want to share your thoughts and experiences, please add them to this thread - the FSA and MRC would love to hear from you.

Thanks
MNHQ

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MNHQ

TheOtherHelenMumsnet · 09/02/2012 17:03

Thanks for all of your responses to the thread so far. The EAT study team have asked us to pass on the following message to you:

"With regards to the issue of when solid foods are introduced into the diet, mothers in the intervention arm are asked to introduce baby rice and then some cows' milk-based yoghurts starting between 3 to 4 months of age alongside continued breastfeeding. On average however, this is closer to 4 months. This is because mothers are selected into the control or intervention group when the child is up to 17 weeks old and then wait for a further week for their safety blood results to come back before being advised by the study team that they can begin introducing baby rice. We have therefore found that on average, the very first solids the mothers are introducing in the study is baby rice at around 16 completed weeks.

There is full information on the EAT study website about how what the team is recommending compares and contrasts with the UK (UN) 6 month exclusive breastfeeding recommendation here.

The results of this study will add to the scientific evidence on when is the best time to introduce allergenic foods into the infant diet for the prevention of food allergy.

And finally, with regards to the comments about azo dyes being used in medication, the FSA are happy to highlight these concerns to the relevant contact at the MHRA."

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