10 Years of LEAP: Bold Progress in Peanut Allergy Prevention

The Peanut Podcast’s latest episode, “10 Years of LEAP: Bold Progress in Peanut Allergy Prevention,” hosted by Ashton Pellom and Lauren Highfill Williams, marks a milestone in food allergy history. Listeners are taken back to the origins of the groundbreaking LEAP study with lead researcher Dr. Gideon Lack, whose work proved that introducing peanut foods early and often in infancy could reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy by up to 80%. “The cause of the disease and the trigger of symptoms aren’t the same,” Dr. Lack explains, underscoring the shift from avoidance to proactive prevention. His insights remind us that science—and the courage to challenge old norms—can change lives. 

Pediatric allergist Dr. Michael Pistiner brings both professional expertise and personal experience as a dad to a child with food allergies. His work on the FAMP-IT toolkit ensures parents and primary care providers have the resources to introduce peanut foods confidently. “Early introduction is no longer new or rogue. It’s the standard,” Dr. Pistiner says, emphasizing that every month counts in allergy prevention. Through partnerships with WIC and frontline clinicians, he champions consistent, accessible messaging for all families, regardless of resources. 

Registered dietitian and maternal health advocate ChaCha Miller shares what it takes to make prevention advice practical and culturally relevant for families. Working through WIC and her online platform, she focuses on building trust and offering realistic solutions: “If it’s not easy, they won’t do it. It has to be simple and sustainable.” Her approach breaks down fear, combats misinformation and ensures that the life-changing benefits of early introduction reach all communities in ways that resonate. 

Former National Peanut Board chair Dee Dee Darden blazed the trail for NPB’s commitment to the allergy issue and reflects on the Board’s decision to face peanut allergies head-on, even when the topic was uncomfortable. “If we’re going to be part of the problem, we need to be part of the solution,” she says.  

NPB dietitian Markita Lewis shares why reaching WIC families is essential: “If we don’t reach them with early introduction info, we miss a chance to help prevent a lifelong health and financial burden.”  

From farmers to clinicians to public health leaders, this episode celebrates a decade of progress—and calls on all of us to keep the momentum going. Listen to the full episode or watch the video to hear these powerful stories and join the movement at PreventPeanutAllergies.org.