Peabutter: A Peanut Butter Substitute

The purpose of this study was to find out if a new food product, Peabutter (made from a variety of peas), can be tolerated by children allergic to peanut butter.

Some children allergic to peanut butter feel deprived that they cannot eat peanut butter. Most children allergic to peanut butter are able to tolerate other legumes like peas without experiencing allergic symptoms.

Ten children aged 18 months to 14 years who recently experienced an anaphylactic reaction to ingestion of peanut butter and had a 4+ reaction to peanut allergy skin pricktest but negative skin tests to peas, and who clinically ate peas without symptoms of allergies were given Peabutter to ingest.

All ten children tolerated ingesting Peabutter without experiencing any symptoms. Some children did not care for the taste of Peabutter.

Because Peabutter looks and tastes like peanut butter it might be confusing to younger children who are taught by their caregivers to not eat peanut butter. Therefore this product is best given to older children and adults who wish to try it as a peanut butter substitute.

In summary, children with documented severe peanut allergy who do not have an allergy to peas can tolerate Peabutter.

Author:

S.J. Tkachyk. M.D., F.R.C.P. (C)
Pediatric Allergy
Associate Clinical Professional of Pediatrics
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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