MP Calls for NHS to Prioritize Allergy Prevention in Infants,Citing Promising Research
london,UK – A British Member of Parliament is urging the National Health Service (NHS) to shift its focus towards proactive allergy prevention strategies for infants,potentially offering a path to safer and healthier lives for children across the UK. Labor MP Becky Gittins is set to introduce a bill in Parliament on Tuesday calling for a review of current NHS guidance regarding early weaning and allergy introduction.Currently, the NHS recommends introducing solid foods around six months of age, aligning with developmental readiness. However, mounting evidence suggests that earlier introduction of potential allergens could considerably reduce the risk of developing allergies.
Recent studies bolster this argument. Research published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found a 77% reduction in allergy risk when allergens were introduced between four and six months.Further, a 2024 study from King’s Collage London demonstrated a 71% decrease in peanut allergy rates among children regularly fed peanuts from infancy until age five.
These findings come as rates of allergic diseases – including asthma, hay fever, and food allergies - continue to climb in the UK.According to the National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE), approximately two children in every classroom suffer from a food allergy. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) estimates that at least 6% of UK adults have a diagnosed food allergy.
Ms. Gittins’ proposed ”Babies and Infants (Allergy Guidance) Bill” aims to increase awareness of allergy prevention and early intervention, and to empower healthcare professionals to provide targeted advice.
“I’ve got a particular personal interest in this at the moment, not only because I’ve got a severe anaphylactic nut allergy myself, but I’m also pregnant,” Ms. Gittins explained. She highlighted a disconnect in current healthcare pathways, noting that allergy advice often requires specialist referrals, rather than being addressed within routine primary care settings. “We need to do more to treat allergies in the primary care setting.”
The bill’s introduction signals a growing recognition of the potential benefits of preventative measures in tackling the rising tide of allergies in the UK, and could lead to a significant shift in NHS guidance for parents and healthcare providers.
Keywords: NHS, Allergies, Food Allergies, infant Health, Allergy Prevention, Weaning, UK Health, Parliament, Becky Gittins, NICE, FSA, King’s College London, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
