Health · Medical Research · 2 hrs ago
One in three Australian babies diagnosed with peanut allergy passed a food challenge
A study in Australia found that 35 per cent of babies diagnosed with peanut allergy showed no reaction during later testing.
The results came from 778 babies who took a supervised peanut food challenge, with testing done an average of six months after diagnosis.
The challenge gave babies gradually increasing amounts of peanut flour under medical supervision to check whether they reacted.
The babies had previously shown signs of an allergy and had test results consistent with one.
Those who passed were no longer considered allergic and did not need to start peanut allergy treatment; their parents were told they could reintroduce peanut at home.
Since 2024, Australia has offered free treatment for diagnosed babies under 12 months, using gradually increasing peanut doses over two years.
The finding could reduce unnecessary food restrictions and anxiety, but researchers do not yet know why so many babies had no reaction on retesting.
An Australian study found that 35 per cent of 778 babies previously diagnosed with peanut allergy had no reaction during a supervised food challenge.
The babies had earlier shown signs of allergic reactions and had skin prick or blood test results consistent with peanut allergy.
Their parents were told they could reintroduce peanut at home and that the babies did not need oral immunotherapy.
The average time between the initial diagnosis and the challenge was six months.
The researchers said the findings could help prevent unnecessary allergy labels and food restrictions.
- Who
- 778 babies previously diagnosed with peanut allergy took part in the challenges.
- What
- 35 per cent had no reaction to peanut flour during a supervised oral food challenge.
- When
- The study was published on November 5, 2026. The average time from diagnosis to challenge was six months.
- Where
- The challenges took place in Australia.
- Why
- The challenges were used to confirm the babies’ allergies and assess their severity before a treatment programme.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Australia began offering free treatment to babies under 12 months diagnosed with peanut allergy.
The babies underwent an oral food challenge under medical supervision.
The study’s findings were published.
- Babies tested
- 778
- Passed the challenge
- 35 per cent had no reaction to any dose of peanut flour
- Food challenge dose
- 2500 milligrams, equivalent to two teaspoons of peanut butter
- Treatment programme
- Free in Australia since 2024 for babies diagnosed under 12 months
- Average time to challenge
- Six months after initial diagnosis
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What people are saying
Being able to identify those children early allows them to avoid an unnecessary allergy label and the burden of avoiding peanut
This was a surprising result for us – we expected a small proportion might pass the food challenge, but not 35 per cent
It might be that they had a transient allergy, where the immune system has an aberrant response to a food initially, but it doesn’t continue to occur
make a huge difference