Science shows babies with cow’s milk allergy have a higher risk of exhibiting more allergies like asthma, in future
“Allergic Action” Campaign Creates Awareness of Allergic March & How to Reduce the Impact of Future Allergies
July 15, 2019 – New York, New York – Allergies are on the rise, especially food-related allergies in infants and children. According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, childhood food allergies cost U.S. families $20.5B annually, averaging $4,184 per child, per year. Common infant allergies like eczema and cow’s milk allergy often indicate other allergies, such as asthma later in life, a phenomenon known as the Allergic March. This phenomenon is not only impacting infants’ future health outcomes but furthering American families’ economic burden.
A recent survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mead Johnson Nutrition™ revealed that only four in 10 moms were aware that cow’s milk allergy (CMA) – a common food allergy in infants and often the initial manifestation of the Allergic March - is indicative of more allergies later in life. Just 55 percent of moms knew that there are ways to reduce the likelihood of future allergies in infants.
That’s why Mead Johnson is launching a new campaign to promote ‘Allergic Action,’ educating parents and healthcare professionals how they can take action to reduce the impact of the Allergic March through the right intervention and support infants’ life-long health.
“Infants who exhibit allergies like CMA are up to 4 times more likely to exhibit other allergies, such as asthma and eczema,” says Jonathan Malka, MD, FAAAI, Director of Allergy and Immunology at Pediatric Associates. “The earlier you detect CMA in infants, the better you can protect them from developing more allergies in the future.”
Recent clinical evidence proves that an extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF) with probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) effectively manages infant allergies and can reduce the impact the Allergic March. In a clinical study published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 90 percent of infants using EHF with LGG experienced reduced crying due to CMA within 48 hours and during a 3-year follow up, infants using the formula experienced a reduction in nasal/eye allergy, asthma, allergic hives and eczema.
“The management of current allergy symptoms and the Allergic March starts with nutritional intervention,” says Minhthy Nguyen, Vice President, Innovation and Scientific Affairs, Mead Johnson. “The clinical evidence proving the effectiveness of EHF with LGG to reduce infants’ future allergies is an astounding achievement in the scientific community. Providing an infant with EHF and LGG can significantly improve their health outcomes today, and down the road.”
To help parents and healthcare professionals take Allergic Action, Mead Johnson is launching a fully integrated campaign across digital, earned and owned channels to help raise awareness of the Allergic March and encourage dialogue to take action. Mead Johnson is partnering with a variety of groups to extend this important message, including Scientific American, Food Allergy Research and Education, Feeding Matters and Nutrition4Kids, as well as sponsoring a Food Allergy Webcast curriculum series for healthcare professionals throughout July and August, provided by Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower.
“By arming parents and doctors with resources and knowledge about taking Allergic Action, “says Dr. Malka, “We can decrease the prevalence of infants’ future allergies on a nationwide scale and change the course of health outcomes for a new generation.”
Mead Johnson is launching ‘Allergic Action,’ a campaign aimed to create a future with fewer allergies in babies with Cow’s Milk Allergy. For more information, Visit TakeAllergicAction.com Tweet
To learn about the Allergic March and how to reduce the likelihood of future allergies through Allergic Action, please visit takeallergicaction.com.
About Mead Johnson
Mead Johnson, a global leader in infant and children’s nutrition, develops, manufactures, markets and distributes more than 70 products in over 50 markets worldwide. The company’s mission is to nourish the world’s children for the best start in life. The Mead Johnson name has been associated with science-based infant and children’s nutrition products for over 100 years. The company’s Enfa family of brands, including Enfamil infant formula, is the world’s leading franchise in infant and children’s nutrition.
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* 1 Berni Canani R, Nocerino R, Terrin G, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus GG on tolerance acquisition in infants with cow's milk allergy: a randomized trial [letter to the editor]. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012;129(2):580-582.
