Food allergies can affect 3–8% of children and 1–3% of adults. Previous advice was to delay the introduction of potentially allergenic foods (including eggs) during weaning. However, this has been found to be counterproductive, and it is the current view that potentially allergenic foods should be introduced when weaning commences at around 6 months. Evidence now shows that consuming eggs in pregnancy and early in weaning can help protect against allergy; and eggs with the British Lion stamp on their shell are a now regarded by the NHS as safe to eat runny or even raw in pregnancy and infancy.
