URMC researchers say babies raised in farming families may build stronger immune defenses against food allergies much earlier in life.
A new University of Rochester Medical Center study found that infants from Old Order Mennonite farming families in the Finger Lakes develop more mature antibody responses during their first year, compared with urban and suburban infants.
The research, published in Science Translational Medicine, followed mothers and babies from pregnancy through infancy. The team compared Old Order Mennonite families with families living in Rochester and nearby suburbs.
Faster immune development
Researchers found that farm-exposed babies showed signs of earlier immune maturation. Their blood contained more “experienced” B cells and higher levels of protective antibodies that help prevent allergic reactions.
“These immune responses are essentially ahead of schedule,” said Dr. Kirsi Järvinen-Seppo, chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at UR Medicine’s Golisano Children’s Hospital. “Their immune systems seem better equipped, earlier in life, to handle foods and other exposures without overreacting.”
Breast milk plays a key role
The study also points to breast milk as a major factor.
Mothers in Old Order Mennonite families passed higher levels of protective antibodies through their breast milk, especially antibodies that target egg proteins. Egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in young children.
Researchers found that babies with higher levels of egg-specific antibodies were less likely to develop egg allergy. Mennonite mothers had the highest antibody levels in their milk, while Rochester mothers of infants who developed egg allergy had the lowest.
“We saw a clear continuum,” Järvinen-Seppo said. “The more egg-specific antibodies in breast milk, the less likely babies were to develop egg allergy.”
Diet and farm exposure matter
The researchers say diet likely plays a role. Old Order Mennonite families typically raise their own chickens and eat eggs frequently. That repeated exposure appears to boost mothers’ antibody levels, which then pass to infants through breast milk.
The findings also support the broader “farm effect.” Mennonite families experience daily exposure to farm animals, environmental microbes, and distinct gut bacteria. They also tend to breastfeed longer and use fewer antibiotics, factors that may further shape immune development.
What comes next
Building on these findings, URMC is now leading a clinical trial that will test whether mothers’ diets during pregnancy and breastfeeding can help reduce food allergy risk. The study will track antibody levels and allergy outcomes in infants whose mothers either eat or avoid egg and peanut during late pregnancy and early lactation.
“Our goal is to translate what we learn from these communities into safe, practical strategies for all families,” Järvinen-Seppo said.
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