Does SMS text messaging promote the early introduction of food allergens? a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Infant feeding guidelines now promote early and regular inclusion of common food allergens in infant diets to prevent food allergy; however, tools to translate these guidelines into practice have not been evaluated.(1-3) We conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test whether regular SMS messaging to caregivers with information on allergen introduction improved rates of allergen exposure at one year. We found that nearly all children were exposed to allergens by one year, regardless of SMS messaging, suggesting Australian caregivers were already aware of the importance of early allergen introduction. Some parents were concerned about early adverse reactions to food, highlighting the need for timely advice to prevent unnecessary dietary restrictions.