Today's Mail Online reports on a small research study published last year by the University of Greenwich, which suggests that baby foods are not subject to tough regulations and lack nutrients.
In fact, this couldn't be further from the truth. Foods for babies and toddlers are nutritionally balanced, meet the highest standards of quality and safety and are governed by stringent regulations. Baby foods are manufactured to the highest standards and undergo extensive quality control throughout the production process.
The EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies has provided a scientific opinion on the suitability of goats' milk protein in infant formulae and in follow-on formulae. The Panel concluded that as long as the final product complies with the compositional criteria in the Infant and Follow On Formula Directive (2006/141/EC), protein from goats' milk can be a suitable source of protein.
Vitamin D remains high on the nutrition agenda as confirmed by recent communication from the UK's Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, raising awareness of the problems of vitamin D deficiency with health professionals and encouraging them to take appropriate action.
The long awaited Food Information to Consumers Regulation was published in November 2011. This new Regulation will result in changes to most food and drink labels, including those of specialist nutrition products. The majority of these label changes will need to be made by December 2014 in accordance with the transition periods for the Regulation.
The European Commission's proposal to revise the current legislation for Foods for Particular Nutritional Uses (PARNUTs), known as the 'PARNUTs Framework Directive', has been under discussion by the European Council of Ministers since October 2011 and the Polish Presidency of the Council has issued a report on the progress to date as part of its handover to the new Danish Presidency which will take over from 1 January 2012.
The European Commission published a proposal to revise the current legislation for Foods for Particular Nutritional Uses (PARNUTs), known as the 'PARNUTs Framework Directive', in June 2011. The Commission proposal is now under discussion by the European Council of Ministers.
The Infant & Toddler Forum have recently published a new resource for health professionals providing guidance and suitable portion sizes for infants and young children.
The UK Department of Health has launched a consultation on the proposals put forward by the European Commission for the revision of the current legislation for Foods for Particular Nutritional Uses (PARNUTs), known as the 'PARNUTs Framework Directive'.
Researchers at the University of Bristol have reviewed the sodium intakes of 8 month old infants, with results showing that 70% of the group had sodium intakes higher than the recommended level of 400mg a day.
The European Commission published new proposals for the Dietetic foods sector on 20 June 2011. These proposals suggest that slimming foods (meal replacements), sports nutrition products and gluten-free foods become “general” foods.
The Generation R Study, undertaken in the Netherlands and published in Archives of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, followed almost 7000 infants up to four years of age assessing incidence of eczema and wheezing. The results showed that the introduction of milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy and gluten before six months of age were not significantly associated with eczema or wheezing at any age,
The UKs Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition published their review of Iron and Health in Spring 2011. The report represents a scientific review of all aspects of iron in health, including infants and young children.
A new series of fact sheets reviewing each of the specialist nutrition categories from a European view has been published by IDACE. IDACE is the European Trade Association for specialist nutrition products and is based in Brussels. The fact sheets cover infant and follow-on formula, complementary foods, medical foods, gluten free foods, sport foods and slimming foods. These categories are governed by the PARNUTs Framework Directive (Foods for PARticular NUTritional purposes). The PARNUTs Framework Directive is currently undergoing review and redrafting in Brussels and these fact sheets provide information on each category and show the importance of clear regulation for these important products.
On Wednesday 6 April 2011, the European Parliament voted to accept a nutrition and health claim for DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega 3 fatty acid) and visual development to be made on follow on formula for infants older than 6 months of age.
BSNA welcomes the outcome of the vote. By voting to accept the DHA claim, the Members of the European Parliament have demonstrated their support for the expert scientific review and assessment that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission undertake.
In accordance with the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation (1924/2006/EC), all nutrition and health claims undergo expert scientific review and assessment by EFSA and the Commission to ensure that all claims, including those referring to children's development, are safe, scientifically justified on the totality of the scientific evidence, and do not mislead consumers.
The European Parliament's approval of the nutrition and health claim for DHA in infant follow on formula means that those products that contain the required level of DHA are legally able to make nutrition and health claims on DHA and visual development. Consumers should have a right to scientifically validated information in order to make informed choices.
SACN and COT were asked by the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency to review the evidence on the timing of introduction of gluten into the infant diet and subsequent risk of developing coeliac disease and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Their report has been published and states that introduction of gluten before 13 weeks is not appropriate but the evidence is not strong enough to give specific advice about the timing of introduction of gluten beyond three months of age.
A new report published by the School Food Trust again confirms previous evidence showing issues of obesity and nutritional inadequacies in the diets of young children in the UK.
The British Specialist Nutrition Association (BSNA) acknowledges the review, 'Six months of exclusive breastfeeding: how good is the evidence?' published by Dr. Mary Fewtrell in the British Medical Journal on 14 January 2011. BSNA welcomes any new research that continues to develop our understanding of infant nutrition. This research will add to the scientific evidence being currently reviewed on infant feeding by the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), part of the Department of Health. It is for the Department of Health to review this research in order to bring clarity to the guidance to mothers and parents.
The UKs Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition have announced a review of complementary and young child feeding. BSNA welcome the review which is long overdue and hope that the summary will provide health professionals, baby food companies and others with valuable up to date information on this important area.
EFSA were requested by the Commission to assess the safety of BPA in packaging materials.
In their recent review of scientific evidence published in September 2010 EFSA stated that “based on the comprehensive evaluation of recent human and animal toxicity data, the Panel concluded that no new study could be identified, which would call for a revision of the current Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 0.05 mg/kg b.w./day." This reinforces the previous views that the current exposure to BPA is not considered harmful.
EFSA conclude there is no common lactose tolerability limit
EFSA and ESPGHAN have both reviewed the scientific evidence for the recommended age of the introduction of complementary foods. They have recommended that such foods should not be given before 17 weeks of age and complementary feeding should have commenced by 6 months of age, in line with the needs of individual infants.
The Paediatric Group of the British Dietetic Association have developed a comprehensive position statement on the subject of 'Weaning Infants onto Solid Foods'.
Two studies are currently underway looking at the impact of early exposure to allergens on later development of food allergy.
The EAT and LEAP studies are looking at different aspects of allergy and questioning the current weaning advice which advises giving potentially allergenic foods later in the weaning period, especially if there is a family history of allergy.