Baby food products containing allergenic proteins and methods of delivering same
View Patent ↗Baby food products containing allergenic protein and methods of delivering the products are provided as a source of early introduction for prevention of food allergy in children. The product may be a solid or semi-solid product and includes an allergenic protein, one or more of a prebiotic or a probiotic, and a foodstuff. A method of feeding a baby food product to a child involves providing the child with a serving of the baby food product such that the child ingests a pre-defined amount of an allergenic protein. The serving may be provided on a periodic basis such that the child ingests a constant amount of the allergenic protein per week over an extended period.
1. A baby food product for children from about 3 months to about 36 months of age, comprising:
an admixture of an allergenic protein;
a solid or semi-solid foodstuff;
a probiotic, wherein the probiotic comprises one or more of: lactobacilli, Saccharomyces , bifidobacteria strains, Bacillus coagulans , or a combination; and
optionally a prebiotic,
wherein the product is pre-packaged in a flexible, sealed package, and
wherein the packaged product is sanitized.
2. The product of claim 1 , wherein the allergenic protein is selected from one or more of: peanuts, a tree nut or eggs.
3. The product of claim 1 , wherein the allergenic protein is a non-animal based protein.
4. The product of claim 1 , wherein the allergenic protein is one or more of: defatted, heat treated, or non-heat treated.
5. The product of claim 1 , wherein the optional prebiotic comprises one or more of: galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, oligosaccharides, inulin, or a combination.
6. The product of claim 1 , wherein the foodstuff comprises one or more of a solid consumable food product or a semi-solid consumable food product.
7. The product of claim 6 , wherein the solid consumable food product or the semi-solid consumable food product comprises one or more of: a vegetable or fruit puree, a grain meal or mash or a cereal.
8. The product of claim 1 , wherein the allergenic protein is coated with the probiotic.
9. The product of claim 1 , wherein the baby food product contains the prebiotic and the allergenic protein is coated with the prebiotic.
10. The product of claim 1 , wherein the packaged product contains a pre-defined amount of allergenic protein per serving.
11. The product of claim 10 , wherein the packaged product contains two grams of allergenic protein.
12. The product of claim 11 , wherein the packaged product is a three to four ounce serving.
13. A method of feeding a baby food product to a child that is about 3 months to about 36 months old for reducing the likelihood of food allergy, comprising:
providing the child that has not been diagnosed with a food allergy, or is one that has been exposed to a particular food or foods and has not experienced an allergic reaction from the exposure, with a serving of the baby food product such that the child ingests a pre-defined amount of an allergenic protein,
the serving provided on a periodic basis such that the child ingests about 6 grams of the allergenic protein per week over an extended period of weeks,
wherein the baby food product comprises the allergenic protein and a probiotic, wherein the probiotic comprises one or more of: lactobacilli, Saccharomyces , bifidobacteria strains, Bacillus coagulans , or a combination,
wherein the product is pre-packaged in a flexible, sealed package, and
wherein the packaged product is sanitized.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the periodic basis is one or more of daily, once every two days, once every three days or combinations.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the amount of allergenic protein ingested over the extended period remains constant.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the allergenic protein is selected from one or more of: peanuts, a tree nut or eggs.