Just in time for Food Allergy Awareness Month, Dallas-based GrowHappy is launching Allergen ImmunoBars, a new snack designed to help families continue allergen exposure as their children grow.

With food allergies on the rise in the U.S. in recent years and up to one in three children developing eczema, the leading risk factor for food allergies and asthma, research over the past decade has shifted guidance toward introducing allergens early, GrowHappy noted.. Many families still struggle to keep those foods in the diet consistently, the company said, which is critical in optimizing immune system development in the first few years of life.

“Early introduction is important, but it’s not enough on its own,” said George du Toit, professor of pediatric allergy and co-author of the landmark LEAP study that led to the updated US Guidelines on Allergen Feeding. “The immune system learns through repeated exposure.”

“We saw in the LEAP study that it takes months to years of consistent intake to really start building tolerance to allergens,” du Toit added in a statement. “Pediatric allergists therefore recommend that familiesavoid starting and stopping allergen exposure, as consistency is key, especially in the months after initiating.”

Mother of three co-founded GrowHappy

GrowHappy Co-Founder Stephanie Wibom with her science-backed ImmunoNutrition range, aimed to empower families to eat more allergens consistently. [Photo: GrowHappy]

GrowHappy was co-founded by Stephanie Wibom, a mother of three, together with a team of leading pediatric allergists and gut health experts from top research and clinical institutions. The company was created to help families more easily follow what the science shows.

“When I was continually feeding allergens over years with my daughters, I could follow the guidance at the beginning, but it was hard to keep it going,” said Wibom. “There wasn’t a snack I felt good about giving them every day that also aligned with what the research recommends. That’s really where the idea for the bars came from.”

Seeing Texas as a ‘highly entrepreneurial’ place to found a company

In a blog post by FirstMile Ventures, Wibom called Texas a “highly entrepreneurial” place to found a company. 

“There is something in our blood that makes us want to build and create,” she said in the post. “One of my theories about all this is that many years ago, the big companies would go to big cities like New York and LA, etc. so if you wanted a job in the Dallas area, you had to make it yourself.”

“Now we have companies coming here for tax reasons, quality of life, and everything else, but this is still part of our history and culture,” Wibom added in the post. “Texas is also a great place to fundraise. Generally speaking, the culture here is very warm and welcoming so it’s easier to get in the door in the first place

‘Making the science practical’

GrowHappy’s Allergen ImmunoButters were developed to support early, consistent introduction beginning around 4 to 6 months. The bars are designed for children 12 months and older, giving families a simple way to keep those foods in kids’ diets as life gets busier.

Each bar includes key allergens such as peanut, sesame, and mixed tree nuts, in a format that works for snacks at home or on-the-go. The bars are made with whole nut butters and seeds, without ultra-processed ingredients, added sugar, or added salt.

This whole-food approach helps retain the natural fats, fiber, and proteins that support both immune development and gut health, rather than relying on defatted flours or highly processed formats, GrowHappy said.

“Our focus has always been making the science practical,” said Carina Venter, PhD, RD, co-founder of GrowHappy. “We know consistency matters, but families need options that fit into everyday routines. This is a simple way to keep those foods in the diet over time.”

Allergen ImmunoBars are available starting this month at GrowHappy’s ecommerce website. They come in three varieties: Peanut Butter, Blueberries & Oats; Mixed Tree Nut Butters, Strawberries & Oats; and Sesame Butter, Banana & Oats.

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