[cstreit]

Since I have a young son now I've done some reading up on this as it does seem "new".

In a nutshell, many MANY more foods contain peanut products in them that are given to young children. The preponderance of peaut increases their sensitivity at an early age when the immune and digestive systems aren't capable of handling it, causing high sensitivities.

I think perhaps more global awareness and the increasing peanut content is responsible for this happening now. (I too used to think it was BS).

I've got a friend in his mid 30's that allergic to ANY poultry products. Talk about difficult!