Australian guidelines recommending egg be introduced into a child’s diet in the first year of life have seen the number of children with egg allergy drop by 17%.
When Brisbane child health nurse Sarah McKenzie meets new parents in her clinic, one question comes up again and again: “When should we start eggs?”
For years, the advice was confusing — even contradictory. But new Australian research is giving nurses clearer ground to stand on, and the results are promising.
The research
A national study led by the University of Queensland and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has found that introducing egg in the first year of life has contributed to a 17% reduction in egg allergy among Australian children. The findings come from two population-based studies involving more than 7,200 children.
Australia continues to have one of the highest food allergy rates globally, with one in 10 infants affected. The UQ and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute researchers set out to assess if egg allergy rates had declined since the introduction of 2016 guidelines.
The shift in allergy rates is significant, said UQ’s Associate Professor Jennifer Koplin.
“To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a reduction in egg allergy after the introduction of new infant feeding guidelines at a population level.”
Babies with eczema seeing the biggest benefit
The reduction in egg allergy was even more pronounced in babies with eczema, a known risk factor for food allergies, said Associate Professor Rachel Peters of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Among these babies, egg allergy rates dropped from 35% to 22%.
“The introduction of the 2016 guidelines was a major change from most advice given in the 1990s and early 2000s which recommended parents delay giving eggs and other allergenic foods until 1-3 years of age if there was a strong family history of allergy,’’ Dr Peters said.
What nurses need to know
Current guidance from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) recommends introducing:
- Well‑cooked egg
- Smooth peanut butter
soon after a baby starts solids — usually around six months.
Other common allergens such as cow’s milk, fish, sesame, wheat and tree nuts should also be introduced before 12 months.
For nurses supporting families, this research reinforces the importance of early, confident conversations about allergen introduction — especially for parents of babies with eczema.
More work ahead
While the downward trend is encouraging, egg allergy remains common said Dr Koplin.
“Some babies can still develop food allergy despite following the guidelines, and further research is underway to find other prevention strategies.
“But we hope these findings provide reassurance to parents to continue following the current recommendations.”
Read the research in JAMA Pediatrics.
