MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Before Brands™, Inc., a science-based consumer products company, is announcing its first product: SpoonfulOne™ Daily Food Mix-In, a dietary supplement designed for children who do not have a food allergy to help their bodies get to know and stay accustomed to the foods responsible for 90 percent of food allergies. This new powder blend is a practical way for parents to educate their child’s immune system once a day and align with current feeding guidelines. SpoonfulOne is inspired by studies demonstrating that the risk of a food allergy may be reduced by consistent, early inclusion of small amounts of that food in the diet.
Developed based on the patented formula of a pediatrician, allergist and mother of five, SpoonfulOne is made of gentle, measured portions of all the foods most commonly associated with food allergy risk, including peanut, milk, tree nuts, egg, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame seeds, along with 400 IU of vitamin D for immune balance. Packaged in pre-measured, single serve packets, SpoonfulOne powder can be easily stirred into cereal, pureed fruits, mashed vegetables and more. Children without a diagnosed food allergy can start SpoonfulOne any time. For infants, parents can begin incorporating SpoonfulOne as soon as the child is safely eating solid foods. And although it is better to include the diversity of foods contained in SpoonfulOne in the diet early, it is never too late to start incorporating small amounts of potential allergens into the diet, as long as your child has not acquired a food allergy.
“The latest research shows it is important to incorporate potentially allergenic foods, early and consistently, in children’s diets,” said Ashley Dombkowski, Before Brands Co-founder and CEO. “Our team of experts developed SpoonfulOne to be balanced, inclusive and gentle so that parents can have a practical way to apply this strategy.”
Food allergies are a growing problem affecting an estimated 6 million children in the United States, or about two kids per classroom. Recent research indicates that eating a small amount of potentially allergenic food early and consistently may reduce the risk of developing an allergy to that food. Leading organizations are taking notice and reversing old recommendations in favor of guidelines that promote the importance of early and consistent long-term inclusion.
- 2013: The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Recommends that healthy babies begin eating foods from all commonly allergenic food categories around 4-6 months of age.
- 2015: Learning Early About Peanut (LEAP) Study, New England Journal of Medicine: The landmark study showed that the inclusion of a potentially allergenic food (peanut) in the diet reduced the risk of an allergy to that food by 80 percent if fed early and consistently for the first 5 years of life.
- 2016: The Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) Study, New England Journal of Medicine: The widely-cited study demonstrated that introducing a diverse set of potential allergens (wheat, dairy, egg, peanut, fish and sesame) in infants’ diets was safe. Although it was difficult for participants to adhere to the regimen, among those who did, the risk of any food allergy was reduced by two-thirds.
- 2017: The American Academy of Pediatrics and National Institutes of Health: Published new guidelines recommending early, active inclusion of peanut protein in infants’ diets.
- 2017: The Food and Drug Administration: Formally issued a Qualified Health Claim linking early peanut introduction to reduced risk of developing a peanut allergy.
“The risk of developing food allergies is often a topic of concern, confusion and anxiety for parents, especially as they begin the joyful practice of feeding their babies solid food,” said Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, pediatrician, Chief Medical Officer, Before Brands, Inc. and Chief of Digital Innovation, Seattle Children’s Hospital. “While they are rightfully concerned about peanut allergies, many families don't know that 77 percent of people with a food allergy are allergic to something other than peanut. I'm passionate about helping families understand the new science guiding introduction of potential allergens early and consistently to babies and toddlers. And I'm thrilled SpoonfulOne makes it easy for busy parents to do so on a daily basis.”
The safety and tolerability of SpoonfulOne were investigated in a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled nationwide study in more than 700 healthy infants led by independent investigator and pediatrician, Dr. Jane Holl, at Northwestern University. The study was entitled the “Introduction and maintenance of early adaptive training protein blends in support of infant nutritional goals: safety and acceptability" study (The IM EATING study). Results of this study have been accepted for poster presentation as part of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s 5th Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Meeting October 26-29th, 2017.
In August of this year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued US Patent No. 9,731,003 covering the SpoonfulOne formula. The company also has a portfolio of additional patents pending that cover its technology.
To support the development and launch of SpoonfulOne, notable allergy experts, physicians and scientists have joined the Before Brands Scientific Advisory Board. Members include:
- Dr. Katie Allen, Pediatric Allergist, Royal Children’s Hospital, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne
- Dr. Eugene Bauer, former Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine
- Dr. Ruchi Gupta, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Dr. David Hill, Pediatrician & Associate Editor of Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5, to be published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2019
- Dr. Stephen Tilles, Allergist and 2017 President of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
- Dr. Christopher T. Walsh, Stanford University Department of Chemistry. Formerly of Harvard University, MIT and Dana Farber Cancer Institute
SpoonfulOne is made responsibly in accordance with the FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements. It is available via monthly subscription at www.SpoonfulOne.com for between $2-$3 per day. Parents of high risk children, like those with severe eczema, should talk to their pediatrician.
About Before Brands™, Inc.
Before Brands is a science-based health and wellness company dedicated to bringing innovative nutritional products directly to families. Our product development builds on a growing body of evidence in support of nutritional strategies that include potentially allergenic foods as a regular part of a healthy diet. The Company’s first line of products: SpoonfulOne™, includes a patented blend of real food proteins and vitamin D designed to help provide children with gentle and consistent immune system support, before foods become allergens. SpoonfulOne™ is based on intellectual property developed by Dr. Kari Nadeau, Director of the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research and Stanford University, and licensed to Before Brands™ on a global, exclusive basis. Before Brands is a member of the Council for Responsible Nutrition.
We Nourish Possibilities™. Learn more about Before Brands™ and SpoonfulOne™ at www.BeforeBrands.com and www.SpoonfulOne.com, respectively.
