HealthInfo Canterbury
Preventing food allergies
Parents may be interested in how they can prevent food allergies. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) recommends the following:
- Breastfeed for at least six months.
- If breastfeeding is not an option, and there is a history of allergies in parents or siblings, give a partially hydrolysed formula (usually labelled HA or Hypoallergenic). If there is no family history, give a standard formula.
- Soy or other mammalian milks (such as goat's milk) are not recommended for preventing allergies.
- Solids can be introduced from 4 to 6 months of age.
- Introduce one food at a time every two to three days (give foods the family usually eats).
- There is no evidence that delaying the introduction of potentially allergenic foods such as eggs, nuts, wheat, and fish prevents allergies.
- You can introduce standard cow's milk after 12 months of age.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Reviewed October 2015.
Review key: HIALC-15650
