Revised Codex Alimentarius Guidelines on Formulated Complementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children - Better Formulations, Increased Fortification Levels and Smaller Serving Sizes to Protect Breastfeeding.
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Date
2015
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Abstract
Objectives: The Codex Alimentarius guidelines on formulated complementary foods for older
infants and young children have important implications for maintaining nutritional status and health
and preventing malnutrition. Governments and companies rely on these guidelines, yet they were
outdated due to the lag between advances in science and the lengthy process required to establish
Codex guidance.
Methods: In 2008, Ghana initiated and led revision of these guidelines, which were adopted by
Codex in 2013.
Results: Benefits of the revised Guidelines include: (1) Smaller recommended serving sizes to
protect breastmilk intake; (2) Specific mention of essential fatty acids and their optimal ratio; (3) At least 50% RNI of essential vitamins and minerals per serving; (4) Expanded scope of
complementary foods to include small-quantity lipid-based nutrient supplements and multi-nutrient
supplements; (5) Processing techniques to minimize or reduce anti-nutrients and trans-fatty acids.
Conclusions: The revised guidelines help countries to develop national regulations covering all
forms of formulated complementary foods and provide updated guidance for formulating good
quality foods used for infants and young children, particularly in developing countries.
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Siekmann Jonathan, Badham Jane, Zlotkin Stanley, Lartey Anna, Yang Zhenyu, Schofield Dominic. Revised Codex Alimentarius Guidelines on Formulated Complementary Foods for Older Infants and Young Children - Better Formulations, Increased Fortification Levels and Smaller Serving Sizes to Protect Breastfeeding. European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety. 2015 Special issue; 5(5): 686-687.