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Why Do Kids Who Live on Farms Develop Fewer Food Allergies?
The study finds their immune systems may mature faster, and breast milk appears to play an important supporting role. In a longitudinal birth cohort comparing infants from Old Order Mennonite farming families in New York’s Finger Lakes region with urban and suburban families in Rochester, researchers found that farm-exposed babies had more “experienced” B cells and higher levels of protective antibodies during the first year of life.
The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, was led by Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo, chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at University of Rochester Medical Center’s Golisano Children’s Hospital. “We’ve known that Old Order Mennonite children are remarkably protected from allergies,” says Järvinen-Seppo. “What this study shows is that their B cell and antibody responses are essentially ahead of schedule compared to urban infants. Their immune systems seem better equipped, earlier in life, to handle foods and other exposures without overreacting.”
The team followed mothers and babies from pregnancy through the first year of life, collecting cord blood, infant blood, stool, saliva, and human milk samples. While a prior paper from the same NIH-funded cohort focused on T cells, this study examined the B cell arm of immunity — the cells that produce antibodies which can protect against allergies — and how those responses differ between farming and urban lifestyles.
The EU Bans PFAS in Children’s Toys. When Will Toys Become Safe?
The EU, along with Norway through the EEA agreement, has one of the world’s strictest regulations for toys and safety. Even so, dangerous toys still regularly end up in children’s bedrooms, partly because so many people shop online.
Toys worth 6.5 billion euros were imported into the EU in 2023, according to a press release from the European Parliament. 80 per cent of them came from China.
Just two weeks ago, the Norwegian Consumer Council warned that it’s not safe to buy toys from either Temu or Shein, especially not for very young children. Several of the toys had small parts that came loose and could pose a choking hazard to children.
The EU has an alert system for when dangerous consumer products are detected. The largest category last year was cosmetics, which accounted for 36 per cent of the alerts. Toys came in second place, with 15% of the alerts. Half of the alerts about toys concerned dangerous chemicals. The regulations are now becoming even stricter.
California School District Lets Students Change Names and Gender Identity in Secret From Parents
A new report from education watchdog Defending Education called out San Diego Unified School District’s (SDUSD) “Equity and Belonging” website for including resources that contain a name and gender identity change form for students.
The “Resources” page on San Diego Unified School District’s “Equity and Belonging” website also lists a “SDUSD Name & Gender Change Form” which says that students have a right to privacy and “includes the right to keep private their transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation at school. Students have the right to openly discuss and express their gender-related identity and expression at school and school activities, and to decide when, with whom, and how to share private information.”
The “Name & Gender Change Form” asks students for their legal name, SDUSD identification and the student’s “legal sex.” It then asks for the student’s new information, including first name, pronouns, if parents and guardians are supportive, etc., and then offers the student two options for publishing their new identity.
Dogs Don’t Just Warm Hearts — they Reshape Your Microbiome Too
Scientists have long suspected that childhood exposure to pets, especially dogs, can shape the immune system. Now, emerging research suggests that the effect goes even deeper — right into the human microbiome. When children live with dogs, they naturally come into contact with a wider range of microbes. As a result, the child’s gut and skin microbiome become more diverse, which researchers consider a foundation of better long-term health.
Moreover, studies indicate that this microbial exchange may strengthen immune tolerance. In other words, the body learns to react appropriately to allergens and pathogens, potentially reducing the risk of asthma and inflammatory diseases later in life. Because dogs spend time outdoors and bring environmental microbes inside, they act as “microbial messengers,” exposing children to natural bacteria they might not otherwise encounter.
Interestingly, scientists are also finding links between early dog ownership and improved emotional resilience. A more diverse microbiome supports the gut–brain axis, the communication pathway between the digestive system and the brain. As this pathway becomes healthier, children may develop stronger stress responses, better emotional regulation, and reduced anxiety.
Chatbot-Powered Toys Rebuked for Discussing Sexual, Dangerous Topics With Kids
Protecting children from the dangers of the online world was always difficult, but that challenge has intensified with the advent of AI chatbots. A new report offers a glimpse into the problems associated with the new market, including the misuse of AI companies’ large language models.
In a blog post Dec. 11, the U.S. Public Interest Group Education Fund (PIRG) reported its findings after testing AI toys (PDF). It described AI toys as online devices with integrated microphones that let users talk to the toy, which uses a chatbot to respond. PIRG’s blog notes that toy companies are eyeing chatbots to upgrade conversational smart toys that previously could only dictate prewritten lines.
Toys with integrated chatbots can offer more varied and natural conversation, which can increase long-term appeal to kids since the toys “won’t typically respond the same way twice, and can sometimes behave differently day to day.” However, that same randomness can mean unpredictable chatbot behavior that can be dangerous or inappropriate for kids.
