Peanut allergies a thing of the past?

If this study pans out, it may. [Link]

Children receiving the therapy will be given a small amount of yoghurt with one milligram of peanut flour mixed in each day. Over time, the quantity of peanut flour will be increased to the equivalent of five peanuts a day, a process designed to desensitise their immune systems to the nuts.

In the pilot, 21 of 23 children aged seven to 17 were effectively desensitised to peanuts and were able to eat food containing the nuts without suffering any reaction. Two of the children now only take the yoghurt with peanut flour once a week to maintain their tolerance.

"This is going to be the largest trial of its kind in the world and it should give us a definitive idea of whether it works and whether it's safe," said Andrew Clark, a consultant in paediatric allergy at the hospital.