Investigators: Debbie Palmer, Susan Prescott
This trial investigated the safety (reduced number of allergic reactions) and feasibility of the amount of cashew nut spread eaten by 196 babies between 6 and 12-months of age. Participating babies were asked to eat cashew nut spread three times per week, with an amount of either one teaspoon from 6-12 months of age, or increasing amounts of one teaspoon at 6–7 months, two teaspoons at 8–9 months, and three teaspoons from 10 months of age onwards, or no advice to specifically eat cashew nut spread. At 1 year of age cashew nut allergy was assessed.
The regular consumption recommendation of one teaspoon amount, three times per week, of cashew nut spread was found to be easier than increasing amounts. Only one child had cashew allergy diagnosed at 1 year of age, and this child had not been introduced to eating any cashew nut spread prior to 12 months of age. Hence regular consumption of one teaspoon of cashew nut spread, three times per week, from 6 months of age onwards was found to be feasible and safe.
Trial results publication: Debra J. Palmer, Desiree Silva, Susan L. Prescott. Feasibility and safety of introducing cashew nut spread in infant diets - a randomised trial. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology 2023;34:e13969. https://doi.org/10.1111/pai.13969