Non-English Speaking Families Face Delays in Infant Peanut Introduction, Increasing Allergy Risk
A new study presented at the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) reveals that non-English-speaking families in the U.S. are significantly less likely to introduce peanut foods to their infants by 6 and 9 months of age. This delay occurs despite medical recommendations for early peanut introduction (between 4 to 6 months) to prevent peanut allergies. Dr. James Senter, lead author and a fellow at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, highlighted that language itself acts as a barrier, preventing crucial medical guidance from reaching these families effectively. The study, which reviewed medical records of 3,170 children from two pediatric primary care clinics between 2021 and 2026, found that only about 28% of all babies had peanuts introduced by 6 months, and 68% by 9 months. However, non-English-speaking families consistently lagged behind, even after accounting for socioeconomic factors like income and neighborhood. This disparit...
