Families who speak languages other than English at home are less likely to introduce peanut-containing foods to their babies during the first nine months of life, according to a new study. The findings suggest that language barriers may prevent some families from receiving or acting on medical guidance intended to reduce the risk of peanut allergies.
The research, presented at the 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Phoenix on November 12, highlights differences in access to early allergy-prevention advice.
Early peanut introduction can reduce allergy risk
Introducing peanut-containing foods to infants between four and six months of age can significantly lower their likelihood of developing a peanut allergy later in life. As a result, early peanut introduction has become a standard recommendation in infant care in the United States.
However, researchers have had limited information about whether families from different language backgrounds receive and follow this guidance at similar rates.
“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.”
Study finds lower introduction rates among non-English-speaking families
The researchers examined medical records for 3,170 children who visited two paediatric primary care clinics within a large US children’s hospital between 2021 and 2026. Of these children, 240 came from households where a language other than English was spoken. The families represented 25 different languages.
Across the study population, approximately 28% of infants had been introduced to peanut foods by their six-month checkup. That figure rose to around 68% by the nine-month visit.
However, infants from non-English-speaking households were significantly less likely to have received peanut foods by both milestones. The difference remained even after researchers accounted for other factors, including household income and neighbourhood.
The researchers also found that the gap did not narrow between the two checkups. Non-English-speaking families were not catching up with English-speaking families by the nine-month visit.
Researchers call for more accessible medical guidance
The findings suggest that language accessibility remains an important challenge in delivering preventive healthcare. Although early peanut introduction can help reduce food allergy risk, families may miss this opportunity if recommendations are not communicated in a language they understand.
The researchers suggest that paediatric clinics need better ways to reach families who speak different languages at home. Providing accessible guidance could help ensure that recommendations on early allergen introduction reach more families and that children have an equal opportunity to benefit from allergy prevention.
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