What increases the risk of kids developing food allergies?

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-02-10 03:00

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International scientists brought together and re-analysed the data from 190 previous studies, including a total of 2.8 million people, to pin down the things that increase a child's risk of developing food allergies. They found the kids who were most likely to develop an allergy were those who: were male; were black; were exposed to anitbiotics while in the womb or in infancy; were delivered via Caesarean section; were the children of migrants; experienced allergic reactions other than food allergies, such as skin rashes, early in life; were not introduced to the foods they developed allergies to early in life; or had a genetic predisposition towards or family history of food allergies. The findings could allow children at high risk of developing food allergies to be identified for early treatment, the researchers conclude.

News release

From: JAMA

Risk Factors for the Development of Food Allergy in Infants and Children

About The Study: In this meta-analysis, the most credible risk factors associated with development of childhood food allergy are a combination of major and minor risk factors, including early allergic conditions (atopic march/diathesis), delayed allergen introduction, genetics, antibiotic exposure, demographic factors, and birth-related variables.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: McMaster University, Canada

Funder: This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Joint Task Force on Allergy Practice Parameters. Dr D. Chu holds a CIHR Inclusive Excellence prize, an E. J. Moran Campbell Career Research Award, and a CIHR Chair in Allergy for Improving Human Development, Child, and Youth Health.

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