The National Allergy Council, a partnership between the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, has launched the online Food Follower App as part of its Nip allergies in the Bub program.
The free digital tool helps parents introduce common allergy-causing foods in age-appropriate forms and keep them in their baby’s diet over time – an approach shown to reduce the risk of developing food allergies.
With food allergies now affecting one in 10 Australian babies, many parents are trying to balance growing advice about early allergy prevention with understandable concerns about reactions.
Research shows introducing foods such as peanut and well-cooked egg soon after a baby has started eating solid foods can help reduce the chance of them developing a food allergy to these foods. Recently updated ASCIA infant feeding for food allergy prevention guideline reinforce the importance of introducing these foods early and, if tolerated, continuing to include them in a child’s diet at least once a week.
Dr Sandra Vale, CEO of the National Allergy Council, said while awareness has improved, many parents are still unsure how to put that advice into practice.
“Parents are hearing that introducing these foods matters, but many are unsure of when and how to do this or what to do next. The Food Follower App turns that evidence into something practical, helping parents introduce the common allergy causing foods and continue offering them regularly,” Dr Vale said.
Developed by the National Allergy Council, the Food Follower App helps parents track which common allergy causing foods have been introduced and sends reminders and links to practical food ideas to help continue offering these foods at least once a week.
The online app can be personalised based on a baby’s age and family eating habits, and allows families to log feeding progress, including notes on reactions. Records can also be shared with partners, carers and health professionals, helping maintain consistency across different care settings.
Maria Said AM, Director and Co-chair of the National Allergy Council, and representative of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, said the tool addresses a gap between advice and real-life parenting.
“We know parents want to do the right thing, but introducing foods that many children are allergic to, can feel stressful. Having a simple way to keep track of the list of foods and reminders, reduces the stress of keeping on top of what has been introduced, especially as life with babies and toddlers is often very busy and parents are sleep deprived. Keeping this information in your head is a drain so this app can help reduce the load and make a real difference in building confidence and routine around introducing solid foods,” commented Ms Said.
The online app was developed following consultations with parents through focus groups and feedback from the Nip allergies in the Bub program, which already reaches more than 160,000 parents and healthcare professionals each year. Alongside, Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia’s National Allergy Helpline, it forms part of broader national efforts to reduce the growing burden of allergic disease, supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Add Comment