Since we can develop new allergies throughout life, and now I eat peanut butter every day, is it possible that suddendly one day I get an allergic reaction so strong it kills me?
There’s increasing evidence that it is lack of exposure to some allergens which causes problems. Current advice is to eat peanuts during pregnancy and to introduce peanut butter to baby diets early to reduce the risk of peanut allergy.
So you’re more likely to be reducing the risk. But there’s a lot we don’t properly understand yet, of course.
There had been long-standing advice to avoid foods that can trigger allergies during early childhood. At one point, families were once told to avoid peanut until their child was three years old.
However, evidence over the last 15 years has turned that on its head.
Instead, eating peanut while the immune system is still developing - and learning to recognise friend from foe - can reduce allergic reactions, experts say.