Buzz
Imagine the horror if baby wipes were linked to food allergies—thankfully, there's no proof to back that up (what a relief!). A recent study was misinterpreted as the reason behind peanut allergies, but here's the twist: the study didn't confirm that claim. It didn't even involve baby wipes or human infants.
The headlines: Baby wet wipes ‘linked to food allergy,’ new study claims (the Telegraph); Frequent use of baby wipes may trigger food allergies in infants (Economic Times)
The story: Kids with food allergies often develop eczema (characterized by dry, red skin) early on. Our skin acts as a protective barrier, and it appears that children can become sensitized to food allergens (like peanuts) through compromised skin. This connection was already understood, but until now, there was no reliable method to study it in a lab setting—such as with mice.
Here's some good news! Researchers at Northwestern University discovered a method to induce food allergies in mice. They published a study outlining their approach, which Northwestern’s press release dubbed a ‘perfect storm’ of four key factors:
The mice were genetically engineered to have a predisposition to a skin condition resembling eczema.
Next, the skin of infant mice was subjected to peanut or egg allergens for 40 minutes…
...and dust allergens (from dust mites or mold spores)...
...and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a soap-like chemical commonly found in cleansers and personal care items.
SLS can irritate and damage the skin if used excessively, but the amounts typically found in consumer products are generally safe.
Are Baby Wipes a Concern?
No baby wipes were used in this study. Interestingly, most baby wipes don’t contain SLS. (Huggies brand doesn’t. Pampers brand doesn’t. Amazon elements doesn’t. If any do, they’re hard to find.)
If parents begin avoiding baby wipes or worrying about removing residue due to this study, “I believe that’s unnecessary and adds unnecessary stress and effort,” says pediatric allergist David Stukus, who was not part of the research.
SLS was simply used as an example of a typical cleansing agent, explains Joan Cook-Mills, the lead author of the study, and one that was readily available in her lab. She emphasized that all four factors were essential: applying only SLS and peanut allergens didn’t produce the same allergic reactions.
Drawing conclusions about human infants from a mouse study like this is a significant leap. “Scientists typically require multiple confirmations of such findings before advising consumers on how to act,” says Steve Taylor, co-director of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Food Allergy Research and Resource Program, who was not involved in this research.
He noted that the medical and scientific communities have made mistakes in the past by rushing recommendations based on early findings. For instance, parents were once advised to avoid feeding highly allergenic foods to children, but later studies revealed that early exposure to these foods actually helps prevent allergies in infants. It’s best to avoid jumping to conclusions until we have a clearer understanding.
The takeaway: Dr. Stukus sums it up best: “The study was impressive, but linking it to baby wipes and human implications is entirely unsupported.”
