PETA is usually full of crap, but they have found a glimmer of truth to exploit here. There is decent science proposing that some autistic children have a syndrome that makes them intolerant of dairy products. The work, coming out of the University of Uppsala, is not done. The agency seems to be a metabolic trick that renders the milk product to a chemistry that interferes with pain receptors in the brain.

Here’s the issue as I last looked at it:
1. Not all kids can play, but a reasonable portion of them.
2. Work isn’t finished or peer reviewed yet.
3. Danger of being exploited by cult-like nutcases, rife in the autism world.

4. However, in the case of our granddaughter, we gave it a shot and the effect is not subtle. She’s been on a celiac-like milk/gluten diet for a couple years. When she gets an accidental hit of “Yukky for Carrie” food, her bad day turns into a very, very, bad day. Results are mostly screaming headaches, and whatever behaviors she can do to relieve it.

So, the diet approach is not honestly claimed to be a cause of autism, but in some cases seems to be part of a syndrome that makes it much worse. The diet is somewhat life-disrupting but not dangerous, and very much worth it in our one case. We have recommended that others try it and see if it produces the payback.

PETA is still a bunch of exhibitionist nuts.