November 12, 2026
Non-English-speaking families were less likely to have introduced peanut at both 6 and 9 months
PHOENIX (Nov. 12, 2026) – Feeding peanut products to infants early in life is one of the best tools doctors have to help prevent peanut allergy. A new study being presented at the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) suggests that families who don’t speak English may be missing out on this protection.
Research shows that introducing peanut foods to babies around 4 to 6 months of age can significantly lower their chances of developing a peanut allergy later. In the U.S., doctors now recommend early peanut introduction as a standard part of infant care. But little was known about whether all families are getting this message equally, especially those who speak a language other than English at home.
“Early peanut introduction is one of the few tools we have to actually prevent a food allergy before it starts, so it matters that every family has equal access to this guidance, regardless of the language they speak at home,” said James Senter, MD, MPH, lead author and ACAAI member. “Our findings suggest that language, on its own, is a barrier. This isn’t about families not caring about their child’s health — it’s about making sure our medical guidance actually reaches every family in a way they can understand and act on.”
Researchers reviewed medical records for 3,170 children seen at two pediatric primary care clinics within a large U.S. children’s hospital between 2021 and 2026. This included 240 children from families who spoke a language other than English at home, representing 25 different languages.
- Overall, only about 28% of babies had peanut foods introduced by their 6-month checkup, and about 68% had it introduced by their 9-month checkup.
- Families who spoke a language other than English were far less likely to have started peanut foods by 6 months, and still less likely by 9 months, even after researchers accounted for other factors like income and neighborhood.
- This gap did not close over time. Non-English-speaking families were not “catching up” between the 6-month and 9-month visits any more than English-speaking families were.
This study suggests that clinics may need better tools to reach non-English-speaking families. Closing this gap could help make sure that every child, regardless of the language spoken at home, gets the same chance of avoiding a peanut allergy.
Abstract Title: Reduced Rates of Early Peanut Introduction Among Non-English-Speaking Families
Presenter: James Senter, MD, MPH
For more information about diagnosis and treatment of food allergies, or to find an allergist in your area, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. The ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting is Nov. 12-16 in Phoenix. For more news and research from the ACAAI Scientific Meeting, go to our newsroom and follow the conversation on X/Twitter #ACAAI26.
About ACAAI
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) is a professional medical organization of more than 6,500 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. Founded in 1942, the College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy, and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X.
REDUCED RATES OF EARLY PEANUT INTRODUCTION AMONG NON-ENGLISH-SPEAKING FAMILIES
R266
J. Senter*, J. Sonnier, A. Lang, J. Saper, Chicago, IL.
Introduction
Early dietary peanut introduction is an important strategy for primary prevention of IgE-mediated peanut allergy. Little is known about how language may influence this practice.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients seen from 2021-2026 at two pediatric primary care sites within a large academic children’s hospital. Records from the 6- and 9-month well child visits containing a standardized provider template documenting allergenic food introduction were reviewed. The primary outcome was documented peanut introduction. Caregiver preferred language, atopic comorbidities, gestational age, and demographic and socioeconomic variables, including financial stress and neighborhood childhood opportunity index percentile, were collected.
Results
A total of 3,170 patients were included with 240 patients from families who spoke a language other than English (25 languages total). Peanut introduction was documented in 27.5% of all patients at the 6-month visit and 68.3% of patients at the 9-month visit. In covariate-adjusted analyses, non-English-speaking families were significantly less likely to have introduced peanut at both 6 months (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.48; p < 0.001) and 9 months (OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.28, 0.81; p = 0.006) compared to English-speaking families. There was no significant difference between language groups in documented uptake of peanut introduction from 6 months to 9 months (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 0.74, 2.45; p = 0.33).
Conclusion
Speaking a language other than English is associated with reduced rates of early peanut introduction across two large primary care offices, identifying language as a potential barrier in food allergy prevention.
