(Pictured l-r: Pistiner, Lieberman ,Parker, Groetch, Greenhawt)

On June 30, a group of nationally and internationally renowned experts in pediatric food allergies held a listening session with the Deputy Undersecretary Stacy Dean of USDA’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, at the request of the National Peanut Board. The session highlighted the benefits of early introduction of peanut protein to infants to help prevent potential peanut allergies.

The comments from the speakers sought to present early introduction’s efficacy, safety, lack of interference with breastfeeding, economic impact and the psycho-social burden it can alleviate in children and their families.

Along with NPB President & CEO Bob Parker, presenters during the session included Emily Brown, founder and former CEO of Food Equality Initiative and former federal nutrition program recipient; Dr. Matt Greenhawt, professor of pediatrics at University of Colorado School of Medicine and director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Children’s Hospital in Aurora, CO;  Marion Groetch, RDN, director nutrition services at the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute; Dr. Ruchi Gupta, professor of pediatrics & medicine at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research; Dr. Jay Lieberman, chair of the American College of Allergy & Immunology’s Food Allergy Committee; and Dr. Michael Pistiner, director of Food Allergy Advocacy, Education and Prevention, Food Allergy Center, MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

For more information about early introduction, visit PreventPeanutAllergies.org.

NPB Chairman Les Crall presents an update to the Board

At the National Peanut Board’s (NPB) quarterly board meeting, held in Panama City Beach, Florida on July 19 and 20, members unanimously approved the FY-23 Program of Work, along with a budget of $13,393,416. NPB’s FY-23 begins Nov. 1, 2022 and ends Oct. 31, 2023. Before implementation, USDA must approve the budget and program of work.

For FY-23, the program of work will continue to focus on millennials but is shifting to place more emphasis on Gen Z as they try to find comfort in today’s world.

“The oldest Gen Z consumers are in their mid-twenties and are still forming their food preferences and habits as many of them are making their own food choices for the first time. We want to remind them of the goodness and comfort of peanuts and peanut butter” said Ryan Lepicier, chief marketing officer for NPB. “Millennials are an important demographic too because many are deciding what their children eat. And both Gen Z and Millennials reach up and influence the food choices their parents are making.”

A year-long consumer campaign will show consumers that we don’t just grow peanuts, We Grow Comfort. NPB will be filling 2023 with acts of kindness, caring, positivity and togetherness—all featuring peanuts and peanut butter. Peanuts can not only remind us of a better time, but they also can help make the times we’re in a little bit better too. We’re already a comfort food for many, so we’re joining Gen Z and millennials in redefining comfort. We’ll be going from just being a comfort food, to helping the world be more comforting.

Additional strategies include continuing the early introduction of peanut foods to prevent peanut allergies work focusing on pediatricians, business development and wellness initiatives. All programs and events are designed to address the needs of the peanut industry to succeed in a new landscape. While virtual formats, webinars, video and audio presentations will still be present, we’ll continue to shift to in-person events.

Home decor is an exciting way to give any space personality. Whether it’s a unique lamp, new couch or funky wallpaper, the power of an individualized space is undeniable and can influence your mood and overall feeling of comfort. This summer, NPB tapped into Gen Z and millennials’ passion for home decor and engaged them during an important time in their life – the transition to college, new apartment, or new home.

The Peanut Better Your Space activation encouraged Gen Z and millennials to bring the things they love into their space – like peanuts! To make these mighty legumes the next trend in home décor, NPB created two deliciously designed peel and stick wallpapers inspired by the popular cottagecore and retro aesthetics.

The first design, "Bloomin' Peanut" is a beautiful botanical print that is sophisticated yet whimsical, with an addition of peanuts that's right for any space. The second design, “That 70s Shell,” features bold lines and bright earth tones that has a modern yet groovy feel. 

NPB partnered with two home and lifestyle influencers on Instagram to showcase these one-of-a-kind wallpapers and give their followers a chance to win one of these peanut-inspired designs. The sweepstakes took place from July 11 - 22, and we randomly selected 500 people to receive a sample of the peanutty wallpaper.  

It's not too late to Peanut Better Your Digital Space. Download the virtual wallpaper to use on video calls or as a background for your computer or phone, or if you are on Instagram, download the peanutty IG effect. Both are available via the NPB website.

Whether your style leans towards cottagecore or retro, go nuts with our legume inspired wallpapers, and encourage others with your creativity by using the hashtag #PBYourSpace on Instagram.