Should I avoid peanuts during pregnancy?

Food Allergies: I've heard that if I avoid certain foods during my pregnancy, like peanuts, I can help prevent my child from developing food allergies sometime down the road. Is this true?

The Food Standards Agency UK previously advised women that they may wish to avoid eating peanuts during pregnancy if there was a history of allergy in their child's immediate family such as asthma, eczema, hay fever, food allergy or other types of allergy. However, this advice has now been changed because the latest research has shown that there is no clear evidence to say that eating or not eating peanuts during pregnancy affects the chances of your baby developing a peanut allergy.

Therefore, if you would like to eat peanuts or foods containing peanuts (such as peanut butter) during pregnancy, you may choose to do so as part of a healthy balanced diet, unless you yourself are allergic to them or your doctor advises you not to. I would suggest that if you still have any questions or concerns, you should discuss with your doctor.