Removing risk stratification in food allergy prevention guidelines.

There is now level one evidence based on randomized controlled trials that early ingestion of allergenic solids in infancy has a preventive effect against food allergy development. As a result, guidelines now recommend early ingestion of allergenic solids as a means of food allergy prevention. However, guidelines in Canada currently focus this intervention specifically on infants at risk, defined currently as an infant who has a history of atopy such as eczema or food allergy, or who has an immediate family history of atopy. However, this definition fails to account for studies supporting early ingestion as a preventive measure within the broader population. Not all of these risk factors (such as immediate family history of atopy) are consistently supported by the literature to date. Finally, a more universal approach to food allergy prevention simplifies the message, decreases stigmatization, and reduces medicalization of infant feeding. It also has the potential to reduce reticence to feed in infancy. The goal of this commentary is to argue that food allergy prevention guidelines should focus their interventions on the broader population and not just those defined as at higher risk.