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News In a Nutshell | January 25, 2022
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Top
Allergy Studies of 2021
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By Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN, LD
As with
most years, 2021 was a very full year of food allergy research and news.
Building upon previous years of study, researchers continue to make strides in
understanding why and how food allergies happen, how they could be prevented,
and ways to reverse them. In this article, we look at some of the top stories
for 2021 in the areas of prevention, management, and treatment for food
allergies.
Preventing
Food Allergies
One of the
hottest areas of food allergy research these days is in prevention of food
allergies. Current recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
for infant feeding recommend that all infants eat potential allergens before 12
months of age and between 4-6 months for those at high-risk for developing food
allergies. The Learning Early About Peanut allergies study (LEAP) showed that
the risk of peanut allergy could be reduced by as much as 86% in high-risk
infants. However, less is known for how to prevent other types of food
allergies and some children may still go on to develop food allergies despite
early introduction. Other potential prevention measures, including changes in
the maternal diet and manipulating the gut microbiome are areas of potential
for preventive interventions.
We reached
out to food allergy dietitian and researcher, Carina Venter, PhD, RD, about her
study, The Maternal Diet Index in Pregnancy is Associated with Offspring
Allergic Diseases: The Healthy Start Study. Dr. Venter says this study “shows
that there could be hope for prevention of food allergy in children as part of
maternal diet manipulation.” The study presented a maternal diet index which
can be used to provide weighted measures for healthy components of a diet (e.g.,
fruits, vegetables, yogurt) as compared to those that are less healthy (e.g.,
fried, sugary, low fiber) and used data from 1410 mother-child pairs who were
participating in the Healthy Start study at University Colorado Denver. Data on
diet was collected using the maternal diet index at four points throughout the
pregnancy.
Dr. Venter
goes on to say: “This is the first paper that shows that a healthy diet,
comprising of regular intake of vegetables and yogurt and reduced intake of
fried, sugary and low fiber foods is significantly associated with reduced
asthma, wheeze, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis up to 4 years and food
allergy up to 2 years."
Venter
also said that to prove that dietary changes were the cause for prevention,
randomized controlled trials should be conducted, and a limitation of this
study is that data was self-reported by participants. There are other factors
that could have possibly influenced the study outcomes that she did not have data
for including antacid, probiotic, and infections during pregnancy and early
infancy. More research is needed to understand how best to optimize all
interventions to reduce food allergies.
For more
on introducing peanut foods early to help prevent a potential peanut allergy,
visit PreventPeanutAllergies.org. To read the rest of the top
studies of 2021, click here.
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Mission
MightyMe Launches First-Ever Baby Puff Containing Peanuts and Multiple Tree Nuts
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Mission
MightyMe has introduced the first-ever Proactive Nut Butter Puffs. This
game-changing product is the only baby-friendly puff to contain peanuts and
multiple tree nuts, making it simple for parents to include a wide variety of
nuts in little diets early and often.
The
heart-shaped Proactive Nut Butter Puffs have been intentionally crafted and
perfected to include equal parts protein from peanuts, almonds, cashews,
hazelnuts and walnuts. Like the brand’s existing Proactive Peanut Puffs,
Proactive Nut Butter Puffs are tasty, quick-dissolve and convenient. Mission
MightyMe puffs are versatile for any feeding stage after a baby starts solids;
they can be eaten on-the-go and stored in the resealable pouch, softened with
water and spoon fed, or crumbled and mixed into any puree.
“Feeding babies infant-safe forms of potential allergens in the
first year (and as early as 4-6 months of age for peanut foods) should be the
standard of care,” said NPB consultant, Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN, LD. “Convenient
forms of these foods makes it easy for parents to feed babies these foods early
and often, promoting maximum benefit from this critical intervention.”
Proactive
Nut Butter Puffs are a science-backed snack developed with Mission MightyMe
cofounder and global food allergy prevention expert Dr. Gideon Lack, whose
groundbreaking research (the LEAP and EAT Studies) changed feeding guidelines
around the world to recommend early introduction of peanut and other common
food allergens in infancy.
"The research
is clear,” Dr. Lack said. “It is possible to prevent peanut allergies in the
majority of children, and potentially other food allergies as well. Yet, many families
still aren’t able to easily follow the new recommendations. We created Mission
MightyMe to make early allergen introduction simple for families – a big step
forward towards ending the food allergy epidemic."
Research has shown
that eating peanut foods regularly and consistently is just as important as
early introduction when it comes to potential allergy prevention, so the
Proactive Nut Butter Puffs formulation was developed to age up with children,
in accordance with Dr. Lack’s research. Mission MightyMe puffs are a
nutritious, clean-label pantry staple for the whole family, and specifically
created to grow with babies as they become big kids.
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Increase
in Threshold of Primary Peanut-Producing States
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This rule changes the threshold for defining primary peanut producing
states as states that maintain a 3-year average production of at least 20,000
tons of peanuts, instead of 10,000 tons of peanuts as currently prescribed in
the Peanut Promotion, Research, and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered
by the National Peanut Board (Board) with oversight by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA). As a result of increasing the threshold, the Board’s
membership will decrease from 13 to 12 members and their respective alternates.
This change will contribute to effective administration of the program.
For more
information, click here.
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USDA
Names Four Members and Four Alternates to the Board
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Newly appointed Board members (top) Casey Cox, Neal
Baxley, (bottom) Jeff Roper and Micah Barham
Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently appointed four members and four alternates
to serve on the National Peanut Board. The appointees will serve three-year
terms, from Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2024. The date the members and alternates
will be sworn in by the USDA is to be determined.
Casey Cox
of Camilla is the new member from Georgia. Cox previously served as alternate
member. Wesley Webb of Leary is the new alternate from Georgia.
Neal
Baxley Jr. of Mullins is the new member from South Carolina. Baxley previously
served as alternate member. Doug Jarrell of Estill is the new alternate from
South Carolina.
Jeff Roper
of Lubbock is the new member from Texas. Roper previously served as alternate
member. Mason Becker of Brownfield is the new alternate from Texas.
Micah
Barham of Oak Ridge, Louisiana is the reappointed at-large member. Lucy
Shackelford of Bonita, Louisiana is the reappointed at-large alternate.
The Board
is comprised of 12 producer members and their alternates. Eleven members and
alternates are from the primary peanut producing states of Alabama, Arkansas,
Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South
Carolina, Texas and Virginia. An at-large member and alternate represent the
minor peanut producing states.
To learn
more about our recently appointed members, click here.
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National
Peanut Board’s to Consider FY-22 Production Research Funding at February Board
Meeting
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JANUARY
21, 2022 – ATLANTA – The National Peanut Board will hold its quarterly Board
and committee meetings in Atlanta, Georgia, February 15 – 17. The Board’s
Research Committee will consider requests for FY-22 funding for production
research from state peanut producer organizations and universities. Funding
production research to make America’s peanut farmers more competitive as a core
part of the Board’s mission.
The
National Peanut Board and committee meeting schedule is as follows:
Tuesday,
February 15, 2022
4:00 –
5:30 PM New Member Orientation
Wednesday,
February 16, 2022
10:00 –
11:00 AM NPB General Session
11:00 –
12:30 PM Domestic Promotions
Committee
1:45 –
2:15 PM Budget and Finance
Committee
2:15 –
3:15 PM Strategic Planning
Committee
6:00 –
8:00 PM Dinner
Thursday,
February 17, 2022
8:30 –
9:30 AM Diversity Oversight
Committee
9:30 –
11:00 AM Research Committee
11:00 –
11:15 AM Break
11:15 –
12:00 PM NPB General Session
Reconvenes
A copy of the procedures governing National
Peanut Board meetings is available upon request.
###
The National Peanut Board represents all USA
peanut farmers and their families. As farmers and stewards of the land, our
mission is to improve the economic condition of USA peanut farmers and their
families through compelling promotion and groundbreaking research.
NPB does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political
beliefs, sexual orientation, genetic information, parental status, and marital
or family status. The NPB agrees that it will fully comply with any and all
applicable Federal, State, and local equal employment opportunity statutes,
ordinances, and regulations, including, but not limited to, Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the Age
Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and the
Genetic Information Act of 2008. Persons requiring alternative means of program
communication (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) or mobility assistance
should contact NPB at 678-424-5750 prior to attending the NPB event
in question.
The National Peanut Board’s Peanut Promotion,
Research and Information Order can be accessed on the USDA Agricultural
Marketing Services website, or can be downloaded by clicking here.
Please direct any questions or R.S.V.P. to
Emily Cunningham, National Peanut Board, Administrative Specialist at
elcunningham@nationalpeanutboard.org or by calling 678-424-5747.
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Recipe: Very
Vegan Peanut Butter Jackfruit Chili
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By Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RDN, LD
Try a new,
protein-packed chili this fall and winter - complete with one of the latest
food trends: jackfruit! Find the recipe here.
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National Peanut Board
Calendar for
January 25 - February 28, 2022 |
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Mississippi Peanut
Growers Association Annual Meeting (Hattiesburg, MS)
| January 27 | |
South Carolina
Peanut Growers Annual Meeting (Santee, SC)
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January 27
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AL-FL Peanut Trade Show (Dothan, AL)
| February 3 | | Winter Fancy Food Show (Las Vegas, NV) | February 6-8 | | Georgia Peanut Research Report Day (Tifton, GA) | February 9 | | National Peanut Buying Points Association Winter Conference (Charleston, SC) | February 11-14 | | NPB Board Meeting (Atlanta, GA) | February 15-17 | | The Peanut Podcast Episode 5 | February 22 | | Florida Peanut Producers Association Annual Meeting (Marianna, FL) | February 24 | | AAAAI Annual Meeting (Phoenix, AZ) | February 25-28 |
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News in a Nutshell is a bi-monthly e-newsletter from the National Peanut Board with the latest on USA-grown peanuts in the media, marketing and promotions, food allergy news, grower resources and much more. |
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Marketing & Communications Editorial Team |
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Ryan Lepicier Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Lauren Highfill Williams Director |
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Lindsay Stevens Specialist
Sherry Coleman Collins, MS, RD, LDN Consultant
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Catherine Karanja Specialist
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