A few people have commented “no one meant eat dirt literally”, so let me address that.
This research was commissioned in service of a company that intended to sell dirt-enriched vitamins (who I must say handled the result very graciously). I don’t know anyone who proactively supplies their kid dirt to eat (although I think they might have bought those vitamins), but I’ve seen multiple friends inhibit their urge to stop their kid from eating dirt by quietly chanting “hygiene hypothesis” under their breath. I have occasionally seen parents soothe themselves through daycare-induced illness with “good for their immune system”, but not nearly as often or intently as they do with dirt. I personally thought the data for “don’t freak out about your kids eating food off the ground” was stronger than this, was surprised by the result, and expect parents I know to be surprised by it.
A few people have commented “no one meant eat dirt literally”, so let me address that.
This research was commissioned in service of a company that intended to sell dirt-enriched vitamins (who I must say handled the result very graciously). I don’t know anyone who proactively supplies their kid dirt to eat (although I think they might have bought those vitamins), but I’ve seen multiple friends inhibit their urge to stop their kid from eating dirt by quietly chanting “hygiene hypothesis” under their breath. I have occasionally seen parents soothe themselves through daycare-induced illness with “good for their immune system”, but not nearly as often or intently as they do with dirt. I personally thought the data for “don’t freak out about your kids eating food off the ground” was stronger than this, was surprised by the result, and expect parents I know to be surprised by it.