"Reality Check - Baby Wipes Don’t Cause Food Allergy" - Mariam Matti
A recent study adds to the evidence that exposures to allergenic foods through the skin may be a factor in the development of food allergy in some infants. But that information isn’t what has been making headlines around the globe. Instead, the media are focusing on quotes from the university’s press release, which took one piece of information out of the study’s context and has news organizations jumping to the conclusion that the use of baby wipes actually cause food allergy. Scott Sicherer, MD, professor of pediatrics, allergy and immunology, and chief of the division of allergy and immunology at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai explains the important key takeaways of the study and debunks what’s not backed by science. Though he finds this a comprehensive study, “it’s not a new conclusion,” said Dr. Sicherer. “It is additional evidence for the current thinking about how skin barrier and exposure of skin to food can be a way a person can become allergic.” He stresses that this is a study based on mice. However, Dr. Sicherer says more research is needed before saying for certain what food allergy parents should limit from their daily routine.
- Scott Sicherer, MD, Professor, Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology, Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Jaffe Food Allergy Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai