Vitamin D remains high on the nutrition agenda as a 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 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.
World Breastfeeding Week event takes place this week (1 – 7 August 2011). This annual event is endorsed by WHO and UNICEF and is celebrated in more than 170 countries worldwide.
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 Infant Feeding Survey undertaken in 2010 has shown that initial breastfeeding rates have increased from 76% in 2005 to 81% in 2010 in the UK. Breastfeeding is best for babies and the BSNA welcomes the increase in the rates of initial breastfeeding shown in the 2010 Survey.
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.