The following is a statement by CEO Lynda Mitchell on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2024 update to infant food packages served through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children:
The latest research tells us that early introduction of peanut-containing foods to infants as young as 4 months and up to 1 year of age can help prevent the development of peanut allergy. Therefore, we are disappointed that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service decided not to include peanut-containing foods in its 2024 update to infant food packages served through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Allergy & Asthma Network had submitted public comment and joined with other patient advocacy groups in urging USDA to support the inclusion of peanut-containing products in the infant food packages.
Early introduction of peanut products to babies has the potential to prevent an estimated 34,000 cases of peanut allergies per year among WIC recipients alone. The practice is supported by science and recommended in the current USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, as well as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
We are concerned that, because of this exclusion, peanut allergies will disproportionately impact under-resourced families and health inequity will worsen. Given WIC serves half of all infants born in the United States and food packages are required to be reviewed once every 10 years, decisions made now will have an impact on peanut allergy prevalence in babies receiving WIC benefits for decades to come.
Although the WIC food packages will not include peanut products for infants to prevent the development of food allergy, USDA will allow WIC state agencies to broaden food packages to accommodate special dietary needs, including those who develop or have a food allergy. The food packages will accommodate personal and cultural preferences, also a positive development.
Allergy & Asthma Network will continue to advocate for families living with food allergies through our advocacy and policy work focused on food allergy prevention, management and treatment.
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