Ep. 155: Did I Cause My Child's Food Allergy?
Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.
We thank Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
When a child is diagnosed with a food allergy, one of the first things many parents wonder is, "Did I do something wrong?" and "Did I cause my child's food allergy?" You question if it was something you ate or didn't eat during pregnancy, whether you breastfed long enough, or if you introduced foods too late. The guilt is real, and it is incredibly common.
Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta sit down with Dr. Joanne Moreau, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, to unpack exactly how food allergies develop, and why no parent should carry the weight of blame.
What we cover in our episode about food allergy development and parent guilt
How food allergies develop. The immune system, genetics, and environment all play a role, and science is still uncovering why.
Food allergy genetics and family history. A parent with asthma, eczema, or hay fever raises a child's risk, even without a food allergy themselves.
Pregnancy diet, breastfeeding, and food allergy. No conclusive evidence links what a mother eats during pregnancy, or whether she breastfeeds, to whether a child develops food allergies.
Eczema and food allergy. Cracked or inflamed skin lets food proteins in before the gut can build tolerance, which can trigger sensitization.
Early allergen introduction. Introducing allergenic foods between 4 and 6 months of age, and keeping them in the diet consistently, is one of the best tools we have.
About our guest
Dr. Joanne Moreau is a board-certified allergist and immunologist based in Brooklyn, New York, where she treats patients with food allergies at Latitude Food Allergy Care's Brooklyn Heights clinic. A graduate of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and a fellow of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Healthcare System, Dr. Moreau has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, an Exceptional Women in Medicine, and a New York Super Doctors Rising Star.
More resources about food allergies
Supporting The Itch Podcast episodes
Timestamps
Our episode about why food allergy parents shouldn’t be blaming themselves
03:12 What doctors tell parents who feel responsible for their child's food allergy
07:55 The role of genetics in food allergy development
10:23 The role of the microbiome in food allergy
12:20 Diet during pregnancy and food allergy risk
14:30 Breastfeeding and food allergy prevention
17:06 Early introduction of allergenic foods
20:38 The connection between eczema and food allergy
34:19 Things you can control: protecting the skin barrier
39:55 What about babies who do not have eczema?
