by Claudia Boyd-Barrett posted in Parenting

Don?t be surprised if you start seeing labels on baby food claiming the product may reduce your infant?s risk of developing a peanut allergy.
Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed to let manufacturers put the statement on baby-safe foods that contain ground peanuts, such as infant cereal and puffed snacks.
Companies already have to tell you if their food product contains peanuts. But this is the first time the FDA is allowing manufacturers to claim these products may prevent food allergies.
This follows a revolutionary change in how doctors understand peanut allergy risk in children. Until recently, parents were told not to give peanuts to children at risk of peanut allergies until they turned 3. But in 2015, a landmark study found feeding peanut-containing foods to babies before age 11 months actually reduced their risk of developing a peanut allergy by a whopping 80 percent.  
New federal guidelines now advise introducing peanut-containing foods at age 4 to 6 months, depending on your baby?s risk level. If your child is at high risk for a peanut allergy ? such as if he has a history of severe eczema, an egg allergy, or both - you should consult your doctor first.
Whole peanuts should never be fed to babies because they pose a choking hazard.
Here?s the exact wording approved by the FDA: ?For most infants with severe eczema and/or egg allergy who are already eating solid foods, introducing foods...