Special for IFN

FOODiversity, a Mooresville-based nonprofit, is launching a new Early Introduction Parent Program (EIPP) to increase awareness and knowledge about the early introduction of allergens.

Early introduction of allergens is an often overlooked section of the USDA 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for infant feeding.

FOODiversity’s EIPP aims to reach parents and guardians, with a particular focus on new parents who
lack access to health care.

The nonprofit organization recently received a grant from the National Peanut Board, which awarded a total of $400,000 in food allergy research grants to support critical areas of prevention, diagnosis, management and of treatment.

In populations where emergency departments are the primary point of care, disease prevention and management are secondary to immediate treatment of acute symptoms. Therefore, health information such as infant feeding guidelines cannot be provided or received adequately. Additionally, for those with limited time or internet access, education and resources for food allergy prevention are even more limited.

With a focus on community-based parenting programs, such as those offered by community agencies or health systems, FOODiversity seeks to identify effective ways to reach caregivers and parents who have limited resources and increase awareness and knowledge about early introduction of allergens.

The new EIPP will unveil the concept of early allergen introduction and provide “next step” resources for physicians, community parenting programs, dietitians and parents/guardians.

FOODiversity hopes that by leveraging community parenting resources as conduits of key messages about early allergen introduction, it will create a sustainable and continuous flow of information to the maternal health and parent/caregiver audiences.

About FOODiversite

FOODiversity’s mission is to alleviate the burden of food insecurity for people with food allergies, celiac disease, and food intolerances. We are committed to reducing hunger, eliminating nutritional deficiencies and preventing medical emergencies. Our client-focused framework brings inclusiveness and equity to community food systems by building health literacy and improving access to “safe” allergen-free foods. For more information, visit www.FOODiversity.org.