National Health Outreach and Engagement Conference 2024

Whitson, Q, Garner, C, Geurin A, Berg A
The 2020 - 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) include new recommendations to
introduce common food allergens around six months when complementary feeding begins. The
guidelines further specify peanut introduction should occur before one year for most children
and between four and six months for children at higher risk for peanut allergy (severe eczema,
egg allergy, or both). Early introduction can decrease the risk of developing a peanut allergy by
up to 86%. However, research shows that just over half of parents introduce peanuts before 1
year, and little is known about parent knowledge and implementation of the guidelines since the
release of the 2020 DGA. To address this gap and inform Extension nutrition education
programs and materials, this qualitative study explores parent and caregiver knowledge,
awareness, and perceptions about the early introduction of peanut and other common food
allergens during complementary feeding through focus groups. Parents and caregivers recruited
from childcare centers across South Georgia participated in three focus groups. Two researchers
coded the focus group transcripts and performed basic thematic analysis to identify common
categories and themes in the data. The preliminary analysis suggests limited knowledge of early
introduction guidelines, grandparents as an important source of information, and fear of
choking as barriers to introduction. Final qualitative results and data from a quantitative survey
will inform the development of Extension materials and programs to increase knowledge,
awareness, and implementation of the guidelines to introduce common food allergens early and
often to reduce food allergy risk.