Preventing Allergies Before They Start

Food allergies affect millions of children across the U.S., but what if many could be prevented before they start?

In this episode of A Dose of Optimism, host Omkar Kulkarni speaks with Daniel Zakowski, CEO of Ready, Set, Food!, and Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac, pediatric allergist and immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic, about the groundbreaking science and strategies behind early allergen introduction.

Daniel Zakowski shares how a personal family experience led to the creation of Ready, Set, Food!, a company making it simple for parents to safely introduce common allergens like peanut, egg, and milk during infancy. He explains the public health impact, from insurance coverage to Medicaid partnerships and legislative progress across states.

Dr. Bjelac brings the clinical perspective, breaking down decades of research and the pivotal LEAP study that changed everything, proving that early exposure can reduce peanut allergy by more than 70%. She explains the connection between eczema and food allergies, and why empowering parents with the right information can transform lives.

It’s an inspiring look at how science, innovation, and advocacy are reshaping the future of childhood health, one spoonful at a time.

Episode Resources:

Centene Corporation: Managed Care & Healthcare Solutions

Aetna: Health Insurance Plans

Medicaid: Keeping America Healthy

Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP)

Oral immunotherapy (OIT)

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)

Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT)

Peanut Allergy Drop

Allergy Therapeutics advances peanut allergy vaccine with promising early trial data

Connect with Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac:

Cleveland Clinic - Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac

Cleveland Clinic Instagram

Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac LinkedIn

Dr. Jaclyn Bjelac Instagram

Connect with Daniel Zakowski:

Ready. Set. Food! Website

Ready. Set. Food! Instagram

Daniel Zakowski LinkedIn

Connect with us:

KidsX Website

KidsX LinkedIn

Children's Hospital L.A. Website

Children's Hospital L.A. Instagram

Children's Hospital L.A. LinkedIn

Learn more about our sponsor:

Nabla Website

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The content, views, opinions, and information presented on this podcast do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles or of the sponsors o