Dee Dee Darden and family
The National Peanut Board (NPB) is mourning the loss of former board member and chair Dee Dee Darden, who passed away on July 7 after a four-year battle with cancer.
A Virginia peanut farmer, Dee Dee served on the National Peanut Board from 2000 to 2005 and chaired the Board in 2004. As one of NPB’s original leaders, she was a trailblazer whose influence extended far beyond agriculture. She believed peanut farmers could make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and her determination helped launch research that has transformed peanut allergy prevention around the world.
In the early 2000s, Dee Dee learned about the work of pediatric allergist Dr. Gideon Lack, who theorized that delaying peanut introduction in infancy may have been contributing to the growing prevalence of peanut allergy. Despite the promise of his research, Dr. Lack was unable to secure funding.
Rather than accepting that setback, Dee Dee traveled to London, walked into Dr. Lack’s office unannounced wearing a “We Dig Peanuts” T-shirt and introduced herself with a simple goal: to help make the research possible.
Her persistence led NPB to fund a study comparing peanut allergy rates in children in the United Kingdom and Israel. Those findings laid the foundation for the landmark Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study, which demonstrated that introducing peanut-containing foods early in infancy could dramatically reduce the risk of developing peanut allergy. The research ultimately changed infant feeding guidelines around the world and continues to improve the lives of countless families.
Reflecting on Dee Dee’s impact, Dr. Lack shared:
“Without Dee Dee’s intervention, there would have been no study on peanut allergy in the UK and Israel, no LEAP study, and no change in guidelines to prevent peanut allergy. She was a remarkable woman and the world owes her a debt of gratitude.”
Dee Dee’s legacy continues through NPB’s ongoing investment in food allergy research. Since 2001, peanut farmers have invested nearly $45 million in food allergy outreach, education and research, helping advance landmark discoveries in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management.
In 2025, the Board established the Dee Dee Darden Award, recognizing research that embodies her bold vision and collaborative spirit. The inaugural award was presented to Emory University’s Sharing Approaches to Food Allergy that Revolutionize Improvement (SAFARI) project, which aims to build a learning health network where every patient interaction contributes to improving future food allergy care.
Beyond her contributions to peanut allergy research, Dee Dee was a devoted farmer, community leader and advocate for agriculture. She was the first woman farmer to serve on the National Peanut Board and spent her career promoting U.S. peanuts while championing innovation that benefited both farmers and consumers.
Her story serves as a lasting reminder of the impact peanut farmers can have when they invest in science, support bold ideas and work together to solve challenges that extend far beyond the farm.
The National Peanut Board extends its heartfelt condolences to Dee Dee’s family, friends and colleagues. Her vision, leadership and unwavering determination will continue to shape the future of peanut allergy research for generations to come.
