Over the last 20 years as many more children have been diagnosed with peanut allergies many have speculated as to what was behind the increase. Some will even tell you that the increase is not a increase just that awareness has made the allergy more recognised. Now a landmark study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has discovered some startling facts about allergies and exposure in young children.

The study found that children who avoided or did not consume peanuts had a 10 times greater risk of developing peanut allergies. The study compared children in the UK and Israel and found that Israeli children consumed far more peanuts early on in life and had far less risk of becoming allergic to peanuts. Though more studies in a controlled situation would be needed to find out if exposure early on was the reason as obviously children in England and Israel have vastly different environments. The findings none the less are very interesting and could lead to a reduction in peanut allergies longer term.

The study also in some ways gives a scientific check mark to those who have said that are ever more sanitized world has lead to the increase in allergies. Kids are not only not being exposed to peanuts, they are living in plastic bubbles due to fear and alarm over germs. This lack of exposure could be more harmful than good as a child's immune system may not develop like it should.

Hopefully some day a study like this will find the key to peanut allergies and schools will not longer need to go into lockdown with the introduction of a peanut butter and jam sandwich.