Study Finds 35% of 778 Infants Shed Peanut Allergy After Oral Food Challenges
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 4
Study Finds 35% of 778 Infants Shed Peanut Allergy After Oral Food Challenges
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 4
Summary
271 of 778 Australian infants previously diagnosed with peanut allergy showed no reaction during supervised oral food challenges, suggesting many early diagnoses may not reflect a lasting allergy.
The peer-reviewed study tested 13-month-olds with escalating peanut-butter doses over 90 minutes and found a far higher resolution rate than earlier estimates that 10% to 20% recover by ages 4 or 5.
About 12% of infants developed anaphylaxis during the challenge, but all were treated in specialist settings and none suffered long-term harm, reinforcing calls for retesting only under medical supervision.
Researchers and outside experts said the findings support a bigger role for food challenges and continued peanut consumption after a passed test, potentially reducing follow-up care, EpiPen use and health-system costs.
The results extend a broader shift since 2015 toward early peanut exposure; U.S. guidance changed in 2017, and a 2025 study reported a 43% drop in peanut-allergy incidence.