This multicenter observational study (FORWARD cohort) enrolled 1,359 children under age 12 with physician-diagnosed IgE-mediated food allergy to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with resolution of at least one food allergy at baseline enrollment.
Resolution was most common for milk (35%), soy (32%), and wheat (27%) allergies, and rare for peanut (3.8%) and shellfish (3.5%). White children reported resolution more often than Black and Hispanic children; lower household income, lower parental health literacy scores, and higher area deprivation index were each associated with lower likelihood of resolution across all 9 common allergens.
Cross-sectional baseline data only — no longitudinal follow-up to confirm resolution trajectories. Resolution was caregiver-reported, not confirmed by oral food challenge. Confounding between race/ethnicity, income, and healthcare access cannot be fully disentangled.
When counseling families about food allergy outgrowing, clinicians should recognize that socioeconomic disadvantage and low health literacy — not just allergen type — are linked to lower reported resolution rates. Targeted support and clearer communication may help close equity gaps in food allergy care.
