A Massachusetts company says the cure to a food allergy could be exposing children early and often.
In 2000, the American Medical Association advised parents against exposure to peanuts, but now, some medical experts now say that's incorrect advice.
"The data (says) you need to be doing it early, and so we give you the tools to do that," said Clarence Friedman, inventor of Aralyte.
Aralyte introduces peanuts to babies who could develop an allergy starting around 4 months old.
Friedman said people's immune systems are developed at a young age, and that introducing babies to peanuts at that time sends the body the message that there's no need for a potentially fatal response.
Aralyte introduces the allergens via vials that contain a mix of organic safflower oil, vitamin D, and a daily dose of peanut allergen. The mixture is described as a "food for special dietary use," one that can be mixed into a baby's formula or breast milk. The company suggests an initial course of three months. One month's worth of Aralyte is $60.
"If you do consistent early exposure all the way from four months to two years old, you have a 98 percent lower likelihood of developing allergies," Friedman said.
The product is currently being used in 15 clinics in the Boston area, including those at Boston Children's, Mass General, and Tufts Medical Center.
The company that makes Aralyte, Antera Theraputics, is also working on kits for shellfish, soy, wheat and more.
You can by the peanut kit from the company's website.
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