Can children have a serious allergic reaction just by touching food? Israeli study says no

A large Israeli multicenter study led by Dr. Idit Lachover-Roth at Rambam Health Care Campus found that accidental skin contact with allergenic foods does not trigger anaphylaxis in children. Of 293 children tested, 83.7% had no reaction, 15% had mild localized reactions, and none experienced systemic reactions. The findings, published in Acta Paediatrica, aim to reduce unnecessary anxiety among families.

A large Israeli study led by Dr. Idit Lachover-Roth, director of the allergy and clinical immunology unit at Rambam Health Care Campus in Haifa, found that accidental skin contact with allergenic foods does not trigger anaphylaxis in children. The study, conducted at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba and Schneider Children's Medical Center in Petah Tikva, recruited 293 children and youths aged one to 18, with 192 having confirmed food allergies and 101 serving as controls. Participants underwent patch testing with milk, peanuts, eggs, sesame, or tree nuts applied to the forearm for 15 minutes, totaling 465 patch tests. In 83.7% of exposures, no reaction occurred; 15% developed only mild localized skin reactions, and only three children had more extensive skin reactions limited to the tested arm that cleared with antihistamine. No child experienced anaphylaxis or any systemic reaction. Younger age was the strongest predictor of skin reactivity, and children with milk allergies had slightly higher rates of localized reactions. The findings, published in Acta Paediatrica, offer reassuring, evidence-based guidance to help ease unnecessary anxiety. Lachover-Roth emphasized that touching allergenic foods is not dangerous if the skin is intact, and families can reduce fears not supported by scientific data. The study does not change current medical recommendations: children should continue to avoid eating allergenic foods and carry an epinephrine auto-injector when prescribed.