Pediatric food allergy prevalence and trends by race and ethnicity
Background: In the United States, food allergies (FAs) disproportionately affect children based on their racial or ethnic heritage, though there are some gaps and discrepancies in the literature about the prevalence of FAs among different groups. Objective: The objective was to analyze clinical data to determine how FA prevalence varies based on race and ethnicity and to track FA diagnosis rates over time. Methods: Patient FA diagnoses, birth years, and self-reported races or ethnicities were analyzed for 298,476 pediatric patients in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia network. Odds ratios (OR) for FA were calculated for each race or ethnicity, controlling for sex, insurance type, and birth year. The percentages having each of the top 9 FAs and ORs for being allergic to a particular allergen and multiple allergens were calculated for each race or ethnicity using a subset of data for 20,582 food-allergic children. The percentages of each birth cohort diagnosed with FA were plotted. Results: Asian/Pacific Islander (A/PI) children had the highest odds of FA (OR, 1.92; CI, 1.80-2.05) and multiple FAs (OR, 1.55; CI, 1.37-1.76). The most common allergens varied between groups. All groups had higher odds than White children of allergies to fish and shellfish, but only A/PI children also had higher odds of peanut, egg, wheat, and sesame allergies. FA diagnoses appeared to increase until the 2004 birth cohort and remain steady through the 2008 birth cohort. Conclusions: Clinicians, researchers, and outreach coordinators should be aware of the potential for a significantly greater risk of FA for children of A/PI heritage in the United States. Additional studies that intentionally include patients from these demographics and monitor FA trends over time are warranted.
https://doi.org/10.5415/apallergy.0000000000000189
Kinetics of early peanut allergy development and resolution in the EAT, LEAP, and PAS cohorts
Background: Little is known about the development and resolution of early peanut allergy (PA). Objective: We examined the natural history and biomarkers of PA longitudinally in 3 cohorts. Methods: PA development was examined in the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT), Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP), and Peanut Allergy Sensitization (PAS) cohorts. Early PA was defined by skin prick test result of >4 mm by 12 months or oral food challenge at study entry. PA was confirmed by oral food challenge at study end point (36 months for EAT, 60 months for LEAP/PAS). Four groups were defined: early PA development with persistence (EP); early PA development with resolution (ER); late PA development (LA); and never peanut allergic. Clinical characteristics and biomarkers were compared between the groups. Results: A total of 56.3% of peanut-allergic children developed PA by 12 months; 32.1% had early PA resolution by study end point. The rate of early PA resolution was 54.2% in EAT, 41.4% in LEAP, and 18.6% in PAS cohorts. Median skin prick test wheals for EP, ER, and LA were 6, 2, and 0 mm at baseline, and 10, 0, 9 mm at study end point. Median peanut-specific IgE (sIgE) levels for EP, ER, and LA were 5.9, 0.4, and 0.3 kUA/L (P < .001) at baseline; 4.7, 1.3, and 0.9 kUA/L (P < .001) at 12 months; and 20.1, 0.2, and 5.1 kUA/L (P < .001) at study end point. LA had slower component expansion (number of components Ara h 1-sIgE, Ara h 2-sIgE, Ara h 3-sIgE > 0.1 kUA/L) compared to EP. ER showed component expansion from baseline to 12 months but component retraction by study end point. Absence of eczema and egg allergy, low peanut-sIgE, or skin prick test result were predictive of PA resolution. Conclusion: A significant proportion of PA resolves in early childhood. Different phenotypes of PA display different biomarkers trajectories.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2024.10.042
Infant Diet Recommendations Reduce IgE-Mediated Egg, Peanut, and Cow's Milk Allergies
Background: Meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have found that introducing eggs and peanuts earlier during infancy reduced egg and peanut allergy risk. Hence, infant feeding advice has dramatically changed from previous recommendations of avoidance to current recommendations of inclusion of common food allergens in infant diets. Objective: To compare the prevalence of IgE-mediated food allergies at 1 year of age between 2 cohorts, before and after infant feeding and allergy prevention guidelines changed. Methods: In cohort 1 (506 infants born 2006-2014), no infant feeding advice was provided to participants. In cohort 2 (566 infants born 2016-2022), when the infants were 6 months of age, all families were provided with updated infant feeding and allergy prevention guidelines. All infants had a first-degree relative with a history of allergic disease. At 1 year of age, infant food allergen sensitization and IgE-mediated food allergy were assessed. Results: Peanut, egg, and cow's milk were introduced earlier in cohort 2 than in cohort 1 (all P < .001). The combined prevalence of IgE-mediated peanut, egg, and/or cow's milk allergies was 4.1% in cohort 2 compared with 12.6% in cohort 1 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.16-0.48, P < .001). Specifically, the prevalence of peanut allergy was 1.1% versus 5.8% (aOR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08-0.76, P = .015), egg allergy 2.8% versus 11.7% (aOR: 0.23, 95% CI: 0.12-0.45, P < .001), and cow's milk allergy 0.5% versus 2.4%, respectively (aOR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04-0.55, P = .005). Conclusion: Direct provision of updated food allergy prevention guidelines to families facilitated earlier introduction and reduced the prevalence of IgE-mediated peanut, egg, and cow's milk allergies.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2025.06.012
The impact of almond supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials
Oxidative stress, an imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants, contributes to chronic diseases. Almonds, rich in vitamin E, polyphenols, and monounsaturated fats, exhibit antioxidant potential, though their overall effects on oxidative biomarkers are unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate almond supplementation's impact on these biomarkers in adults. Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched up to January 2025. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and crossover trials assessing biomarkers of antioxidant and oxidation status (e.g., malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx], 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine [8-OHdG], uric acid [UA]) were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Tool, and random-effects models calculated weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Eight studies (5 RCTs, 3 crossover trials; n = 424) were included. Almond doses of > 60 g/day significantly reduced MDA (WMD = -0.46, p = 0.002), 8-OHdG (WMD = -5.83, p < 0.001), and UA (WMD = -0.64, p = 0.009), while increasing SOD (WMD = 2.02, p = 0.008). No effect was found for GPx (p = 0.270). High heterogeneity (I² = 92-96%) indicated variability in study design, dosage, and population. Almond supplementation (> 60 g/day) significantly improves oxidation status by reducing MDA, 8-OHdG, and UA while enhancing SOD activity. These findings support almonds as a functional food for oxidation management. However, high heterogeneity underscores the need for standardized trials to confirm optimal dosage, duration, and conditions. Trial registration: Prospero-CRD42025646264.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14701-w
Association between consumption of different food groups and risk of chronic kidney disease: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Inlight of varying outcomes from prior research concerning the relationship between different food groups and the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), this study was conducted to examine the relationship between the consumption of various food groups and CKD risk via a dose-dependent meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Searches were conducted in the Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar databases through January 2025. Out of 6460 publications, twenty-one studies were selected for final analysis. The results revealed that red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of CKD (RR: 1·39; 95 % CI: 1·13, 1·71). Conversely, consumption of fish (RR: 0·88; 95 % CI: 0·80, 0·97), grains (RR: 0·87; 95 % CI: 0·77, 0·99) and legumes (RR: 0·83; 95 % CI: 0·72, 0·92) showed a protective effect against CKD. The linear dose-response analysis indicated that for every 100 g/d increment in red meat and total meat consumption, the risk of CKD escalated by 34 and 2 %, respectively. Furthermore, an increase of 15 g/d in dietary fish, 28 g/d in nuts and 50 g/d in legumes was associated with a 6, 21 and 13 % decreased risk of CKD, respectively. Overall, higher red meat intake correlates with a heightened CKD risk, whereas the consumption of fish, grains and legumes is associated with a lowered risk. Further longitudinal cohort studies with extended follow-up are recommended to validate our findings.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114525104005
Daily walnut consumption increases 6-sulfatoxymelatonin urinary levels and can improve sleep quality: a randomized crossover trial
We aimed to study the potential impact of daily consumption of walnuts on urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SMT) levels and sleep quality parameters. We conducted an open-label randomized crossover trial (NCT04799821) in 76 young adults (24.1 ± 3.4 years; 85.5% women) who either ingested 40 g of walnuts daily during dinner (intervention) or refrained from eating walnuts or any other nuts (control) for 8 weeks, with a 2-week washout period. Outcome variables included the determination of 6-SMT in urine samples collected in two consecutive periods: evening (from 20:00 to 23:00) and nighttime (from 23:00 to 07:00), the measurement of sleep quality parameters (latency, wake after sleep onset, awakenings, and efficiency) and daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Tryptophan and melatonin contents of the walnuts used for the intervention were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The 8-week walnut intervention significantly increased evening urinary 6-SMT concentrations (p = 0.029) and improved sleep latency (p = 0.001), while no differences were found between the baseline and control conditions. Likewise, the walnut intervention resulted in increased global sleep quality (p = 0.002) and lower daytime sleepiness (p = 0.002). Partial correlation analyses indicated that during the intervention, evening urinary 6-SMT concentrations were significantly associated with higher sleep efficiency (p = 0.026) and an improved global sleep quality (p = 0.006). Our findings highlight the potential of walnuts as sleep-promoting foods among young adults. Specifically, we demonstrated that a daily serving of 40 g of walnuts increases urinary 6-SMT levels, reduces sleep latency, and improves global sleep quality. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the diet-sleep association.
https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo00971e
Nut Intake, Functional Limitations, and Quality of Life in Older Adults: Findings From NHANES 2003-2012
Background: Increased nut consumption has positive effects on physical and cognitive function, but whether these translate into lower functional limitations in older adults is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nut intake, functional limitations, the severity of these limitations and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included data from 5807 adults (53.4% female) aged 60 years and older who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2012. Nut intake was assessed using two 24-h dietary recalls. Functional limitations were assessed using the NHANES Physical Functioning Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated using the four-question HRQOL-4 questionnaire. Negative binomial regression, linear regression and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between nut intake and both functional limitations and quality of life. Results: Nut consumption (> 0 g/day) was associated with significantly fewer functional limitations (β = −0.12; 95% CI: −0.24, −0.01; p = 0.048) and lower severity of these limitations (β = −0.67; 95% CI −1.11, −0.23; p = 0.004) compared to no consumption. Compared to nonconsumers, nut consumers (> 0 g/day) also had lower odds of reporting poor physical health (OR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.68, 0.98; p = 0.027) and activity limitations (OR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.55, 0.95; p = 0.023). When participants were categorised by intake level (nonconsumers, < 6.9 g/day, and ≥ 6.9 g/day), consuming ≥ 6.9 g/day was associated with fewer (β = −0.19; 95% CI: −0.32, −0.06; p = 0.004) and lower severity of functional limitations (β = −0.84; 95% CI: −1.30, −0.37; p = 0.001) compared to no consumption. Intake ≥ 6.9 g/day was also associated with lower odds of poor general health (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.906; p = 0.023), poor physical health (OR = 0.74; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.97; p = 0.027) and limitations in daily activities (OR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.82; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Consumption of nuts, particularly at above-median levels, in older adults may be linked with experiencing fewer functional limitations, lower severity of these limitations and fewer general and physical unhealthy and inactive days.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcsm.70022
INC Tariff Report & Updates
Canada: 25% Tariff on US Peanut Butter Removed
Canada has removed most of its retaliatory tariffs against goods from the United States, including a 25% duty on US peanut butter, as of September 1, 2025. According to a statement published by the Canadian government, this measure was taken in recognition of the US allowing most Canadian goods to enter the US tariff-free under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
The peanut butter tariff had been in place since March, when Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of US goods in response to Trump’s announcement of a 25% blanket tariff on Canadian goods.
China: Application Period Extended for Tariff Exclusion Requests
According to a GAIN Report published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service in August, the Chinese Ministry of Finance has reportedly extended the application period for requesting exclusions from Section 301 retaliatory tariffs to October 30, 2025, with approved applications set to expire after December 13, 2025. Chinese importers report that the pop-up window on the Ministry of Finance website now states: “No new applications will be accepted for this tariff line after October 30, 2025, and approved applications will remain valid until December 13, 2025.” This policy update appears to apply to all agricultural products from the United States subject to Section 301 retaliatory tariffs, including but not limited to grains, oilseeds, meat, pulses, tree nuts, alcoholic beverages, leather/hides, and fruit.
This update comes after an earlier GAIN Report noted that the application system indicated that no new applications would be accepted after August 1, 2025, and that approved exclusions would only remain valid until September 14, 2025.
EU: Commission Proposes Suspension of Trade Concessions With Israel
On September 17, 2025, the European Commission presented a proposal that includes the suspension of certain trade-related provisions of the association agreement between the EU and Israel. The suspension concerns the core trade-related provisions of the agreement, and in practice means that imports from Israel would be charged duties at the level applied to any other third country with whom the EU has no free trade agreement. As for next step towards adoption of the proposal, the Council will need to adopt the decision with a qualified majority.
Türkiye: Some Tariffs on US Imports, Including Tree Nuts, Eliminated
On September 22, 2025, Türkiye announced that it had terminated retaliatory tariffs imposed in 2018 on certain US imports, as reported by Reuters. The presidential decision published in Türkiye’s official gazette repealed the original order from 2018, which had imposed a 10% retaliatory tariff on tree nuts from the US.
Nut Consumption Associated With Lower Chronic Kidney Disease Risk
A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition looked at how different foods affect the risk of chronic kidney disease, a condition that gradually reduces kidney function.
In this meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, researchers combined data from multiple observational studies that followed people over time to see how diet relates to disease risk.
The results showed that nuts may help protect kidney health. Eating about 28 grams (roughly a handful) of nuts per day was linked to a 21% lower risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Other foods associated with reduced risk included legumes, grains, and fish, while high red meat intake increased the risk.
These findings suggest that including nuts in the daily diet could be a simple way to support long-term kidney health.
Sadeghi, S., Imani, H., Talebi, S., Naeini, F., Moradi, S., Wong, A., & Mohammadi, H. (2025). Association between consumption of different food groups and risk of chronic kidney disease: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. The British Journal of Nutrition, 1–11. Advance online publication.
Eating a Large Handful of Walnuts Daily May Improve Sleep Quality
New research published in Food & Function explored whether eating walnuts every day could affect levels of melatonin —a hormone that helps regulate sleep— and improve sleep quality.
In a randomized crossover trial of 76 healthy young adults, participants ate 40 grams (a large handful) of walnuts with dinner for eight weeks and avoided nuts for another eight weeks, separated by a two-week break. The researchers measured levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (a key biomarker of melatonin production), several sleep quality measures (how quickly participants fell asleep, how often they woke up at night, and the percentage of time in bed spent asleep), and daytime sleepiness.
The findings showed that eating walnuts significantly increased evening levels of the melatonin biomarker. Participants also fell asleep faster, reported better overall sleep quality, and felt less sleepy during the day after the walnut intervention. These benefits were not seen during the nut-free control phase.
With improvements observed across several measures of sleep quality, this study highlights the potential of walnuts as a sleep-promoting food among young adults.
This study was funded by the California Walnut Commission.
Zerón-Rugerio, M. F., Ibarra-Picón, A., Diez-Hernández, M., Comas-Basté, O., Pérez-Cano, F. J., Cambras, T., & Izquierdo-Pulido, M. (2025). Daily walnut consumption increases 6-sulfatoxymelatonin urinary levels and can improve sleep quality: a randomized crossover trial. Food & Function, 10.1039/d5fo00971e. Advance online publication.