HOUSTON, July 29,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Memorial Hermann Health System
has made an investment in Ready, Set, Food that will further its
commitment to educate and equip families with the tools necessary
to give their babies the best chance at living a life free of food
allergies.
"We have been partners with Ready, Set, Food since 2022,
providing parents with an informative handout that explains the
importance of introducing food allergens to your infant early,"
said Dr. Victoria Regan, vice
president of Women's and Children's Services for Memorial Hermann.
"In addition, through the company's Giving Back partnership,
Memorial Hermann has been able to give the allergen introduction
system directly to 2,000 low-income families who might not
otherwise have access to the product."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), an estimated 8% of children in the
United States have some type of food allergy. The most
common food allergies are to milk, eggs, fish, crustacean
shellfish, wheat, soy, peanuts, and tree nuts. Recent
guidelines issued by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma,
and Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma,
and Immunology (ACAAI) recommend feeding babies foods like peanuts
and eggs starting at 4 months to 6 months of age to help prevent
food allergies from developing.
"It's also been shown that eczema, a condition that causes dry,
itchy and inflamed skin, is a risk factor for food allergies,"
Regan said. "We are partnering with Ready, Set, Food on a clinical
trial, currently in the planning stages, which will examine the
link between the two. This is the first time that both are being
studied together, and our findings could have a big impact on
public health."
In 23 different clinical trials with more than 13,000
participants, it has been shown that the process of introducing
food allergens early can prevent up to 80% of food allergies in
children.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Memorial Hermann to
provide their pediatricians and nurses the tools to teach about
food allergy, and that they also helped us donate our early
allergen introduction products to families in need," said
Daniel Zakowski, CEO and co-founder
of Ready, Set, Food. "We are also very excited about our new
study with Memorial Hermann to explore the opportunities to prevent
both eczema and food allergies through early interventions."
"At Memorial Hermann, our vision is to create healthier
communities, now and for generations to come, and this partnership
is giving us an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives
of countless number of children," Dr. Regan said. "By simply adding
Ready. Set. Food to a breastmilk or formula feeding, parents can
introduce food allergens easily and safely and give their children
the best chance at a life free of food allergies."
Media Contact:
media.relations@memorialhermann.org
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SOURCE Memorial Hermann Health System