Baby Food Industry Research Articles

Nutritional and Health Requirements to Achieve Quality in The Localization of Baby Food Industry

Nutritional and Health Requirements to Achieve Quality in The Localization of Baby Food Industry

Proposed contract manufacturing strategy for Baby Food Industry using Kepner-Tregoe and Analytic Hierarchy Process (Ahp) Approach

Purpose: The aim of this study is to select the best contract manufacturing strategy to ensure sustainable growth and fulfillment of MA baby food at PT. S.A. Methods: This study used qualitative and quantitative research methods. The qualitative approach involves conducting interviews and forum group discussions (FGD) with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to determine the root cause of problems using Kapner Tragoe and Why Tree Diagram analysis and to determine the criteria and alternative solutions for this problem. The quantitative approach uses the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to select the best alternative solution. Results: Using the AHP method, the most important criteria that could influence the decision-making process were schedule (32.95%), cost (30.31%), delivery (16.44%), capacity (8.66%), ability (6.79%), and quality (4.86%). The best alternative solution for the short term to resolve the business issue is “Produce in existing contract manufacturing and distribute using 3rd party trader (58,09%)”. This alternative solution will ensure fulfillment and prevent sales losses of 96 billion but with a trade-off of a 10% increase in costs. Meanwhile, the best alternative solutions for long term is “Terminate existing Manufacture & Produce in Alternative Local Contract Manufacture in Indonesia (31,55%)”. This alternative solution provides cost savings equivalent to 8.8% of the existing COGS and ensures sustainable growth and fulfillment of MA baby food at PT. S.A.

Breastfeeding, first-food systems and corporate power: a case study on the market and political practices of the transnational baby food industry in Brazil.

The exploitative marketing of commercial milk formula (CMF) reduces breastfeeding, and harms child and maternal health globally. Yet forty years after the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (The Code) was adopted by WHO member states, many countries are still to fully implement its provisions into national law. Furthermore, despite The Code, worldwide CMF markets have markedly expanded. In this paper, we adopt Brazil as a case study to understand the power of the baby food industry's marketing and corporate political activity, and how this influences the country's 'first-food system' in ways that promote and sustain CMF consumption. We used a case study design, drawing data from from documents and key informant interviews (N = 10). Breastfeeding rates plummeted in Brazil to a historic low in the 1970s. A resurgence in breastfeeding from the mid-1980s onwards reflected strengthening political commitment for a national policy framework and breastfeeding protection law, resulting in-turn, from collective actions by breastfeeding coalitions, advocates, and mothers. Yet more recently, improvements in breastfeeding have plateaued in Brazil, while the industry grew CMF sales in Brazil by 750% between 2006 and 20. As regulations tightened, the industry has more aggressively promoted CMF for older infants and young children, as well as specialised formulas. The baby food industry is empowered through association with powerful industry groups, and employs lobbyists with good access to policymakers. The industry has captured the pediatric profession in Brazil through its long-standing association with the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. Brazil illustrates how the baby food industry uses marketing and political activity to promote and sustain CMF markets, to the detriment of breastfeeding. Our results demonstrate that this industry requires much greater scrutiny by regulators.

Food industry biowaste as substrate for biosolvents production focusing on lactic acid and ethyl lactate

Solvents represent a major category of chemicals due to their necessity in a variety of industries. The majority of solvents derived from fossil carbon are hazardous to both human health and the environment. In this context, it seems imperative to convert biomass into new alternative greener solvents. The present study concentrates on the production of two biosolvents; namely lactic acid and ethyl lactate, from biowaste of baby food industry. For the production of lactic acid parameters as the dosages of enzymes (5 mg/gLactose and 20 mg/gLactose) and inoculum size (5% v/v and 10% v/v) were examined. The lactic acid concentration reached almost 17.3g/L after 144 hours with 5mgLactozymePure/glactose and 10%v/v inoculum size. Repeated fermentation was also applied yielding a lactic acid productivity of 0.97 g/L h, which is 8 times higher than the conventional batch fermentation. Moreover, the production of ethyl lactate from bioethanol and lactic acid from the fermentation broth was examined. Lactic acid conversion yields as high as 59.9% at 255min were observed. Overall, the results of this work are very promising but further research is needed to optimize conditions and evaluate scalability of the production of these biosolvents from biowaste, since the production of lactic acid and ethyl-lactate from biowaste provides a sustainable approach to the circular economy, limiting waste and minimizing the environmental effect of industrial processes.

Marketing of commercial milk formula during COVID-19 in Indonesia.

Baby food marketing poses a substantial barrier to breastfeeding, which adversely affects mothers' and children's health. Over the last decade, the baby food industry has utilised various marketing tactics in Indonesia, including direct marketing to mothers and promoting products in public spaces and within the healthcare system. This study examined the marketing of commercial milk formula (CMF) and other breast-milk substitute products during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Using a local, community-based reporting platform, information on publicly reported violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions (the Code) was collected. It was found that a total of 889 reported cases of unethical marketing of such products were recorded primarily through social media from May 20 through December 31, 2021. Our results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has provided more opportunities for the baby food industry in Indonesia to attempt to circumvent the Code aggressively through online marketing strategies. These aggressive marketing activities include online advertisements, maternal child health and nutrition webinars, Instagram sessions with experts, and heavy engagement of health professionals and social media influencers. Moreover, product donations and assistance with COVID-19 vaccination services were commonly used to create a positive image of the baby food industry in violation of the Code. Therefore, there is an urgent need to regulate the online marketing of milk formula and all food and beverage products for children under the age of 3.

Baby food industry interference with infant feeding international regulation-A case study on the standard for follow-up formula.

Globally, first-food systems have changed and breastfeeding has decreased due to the increased growth in commercial breast milk substitute (BMS) consumption, which includes both follow-up and toddler formulas. These products are manufactured by a small number of corporate leaders in international BMS sales. Discussions for global regulation of these products take place in the Codex Alimentarius and are permeated by the strong participation of these corporations in the Codex committees. In the present study, the participation of the baby food industry in the review of the follow-up formula standard in the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) was analyzed. The analysis of the CCNFSDU documents was based on the period from 2009 to 2019 and used quantitative and qualitative approaches. Compositional and participation data from country delegations and observer organizations on the representative profiles of the involved institutions and the baby food industry's involvement in this process were established systematically. In total, 134 out of the 189 Codex Alimentarius member countries engaged in the standard review process, of which 28% were involved in the entire process. The private sector was present in 81% of the most assiduous member state delegations to the meetings. Furthermore, ~60% of the observer organizations involved in the review process were business associations representing industry interests. Moreover, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries was the only business association with observer status in the CCNFSDU that was specifically dedicated to representing the baby food industryduring the review process. These research results expand the body of evidence confirming the expressive and disproportionate participation of baby food industries and their representatives in the discussion processes within the scope of the CCNFSDU. However, studies investigating the Codex and the public documents of its respective committees are limited. Thus, this was the first study to analyze the influence of the baby food industry on BMS global regulatory compliance.

‘Just Take Care of Them Like You Would a Baby’: Infant Care Work and Interspecies Foodways

AbstractThe reliance on milk replacers by zoos was vital for the creation of breeding programmes that would fill spaces of captive animal spectacle in the early twentieth century. The creation of the baby food industry and pressures to use these scientifically developed products enabled the rise of captive animal breeding programmes, which routinely removed infants from their mothers and placed them in the hands of humans who immediately put them on a bottle. This article explores the intersecting infant formula foodways of human and nonhuman animals in cages and on stages where baby animals became spectacle.

The Effects of Chicken Manure Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Production of Green Bean Plants (Vigna radiata L.) in Peat

Green bean plants (Vigna radiata L.) are one of the bean plant commodities commonly consumed by Indonesians. The domestic demand for green bean plants is increasing every year. This increasing demand is shown by the fact that there is an increase in the need to satisfy the direct consumption and to meet the need for the supply of industrial raw materials, such as the baby food industry, canned drinks, and processed food. Peatland is a fragile area with a low level of productivity. The low productivity level of peatland is due to the low availability of the macro and micronutrients for plants, the high level of acidity, and the low base saturation. This research aims to identify the exact dose of chicken manure fertilizer to increase the growth and production of green bean plants. The method used to conduct this research was Completely Randomized Design (CRD), with five levels of treatment as a first step to identifying site-specific varieties. Each treatment was repeated on two plant samples: the control, five metric tons/ha, ten metric tons/ha, and 20 metric tons/ha. The application of the chicken manure fertilizer showed positive effects on the improvement of the soil structure, the soil biota, and the availability of the macro and micronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The application of the chicken manure fertilizer in this research showed the effect on the growth and production of the green bean plants. The application of the chicken manure fertilizer with the amount of 20 metric tons showed the highest results in terms of the height of the plant, the number of leaves, the number of pea pods, and the weight of the pods if compared to the other treatments with different amount of the chicken manure fertilizer.

Ready made meals for baby nutrition

The inclusion of specialized food products intended for a specific category of the population is one of the measures aimed at improving the nutritional structure of children. The baby food industry is constantly evolving to meet the time challenges. New directions include the production of dishes of a high degree of readiness for baby nutrition. The direction of the production of ready-made meals has not yet been formed in baby nutrition and has broad prospects. The use of modern heat treatment technologies, including the production of dishes with a short shelf life, allows you to bring products and dishes as close as possible to homemade ones.

'The second mother': How the baby food industry captures science, health professions and civil society in France.

Most babies in France are fed with infant formula and then commercial complementary foods, many of which are ultra‐processed and harmful to health. Internationally, there is opposition by the baby food industry to the introduction of public health policies that would limit the marketing and consumption of such products. Our aim was to identify the key baby food industry actors, describe their history and corporate political activity (CPA) in France. We sourced publicly available information, which we triangulated with data from 10 semi‐structured interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis was undertaken simultaneously to data collection, guided by an existing classification of the CPA of the food industry. The baby food industry in France has shaped the science on infant and young child nutrition and nurtured long‐established relationships with health professionals. This corporate science and these relationships helped baby food companies to portray themselves as experts on child‐related topics. The baby food industry has also engaged with a broad range of civil society organisations, particularly through the concept of the first 1000 days of life, and during the covid‐19 pandemic. We found evidence, although limited, that the baby food industry directly lobbied the French government. Since its early development in France in the 19th century, the baby food industry used its CPA to promote its products and protect and sustain its market. Our findings can be used to recognise, anticipate and address the CPA of this industry, and to minimise any negative influence it may have on babies' and mother's health.

Breastfeeding, first-food systems and corporate power: a case study on the market and political practices of the transnational baby food industry and public health resistance in the Philippines

BackgroundThe aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) reduces breastfeeding, and harms child and maternal health globally. Yet forty years after the World Health Assembly adopted the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (The Code), many countries are still to fully implement its provisions into national law. Furthermore, despite The Code, commercial milk formula (CMF) markets have markedly expanded. In this paper, we adopt the Philippines as a case study to understand the battle for national Code implementation. In particular, we investigate the market and political strategies used by the baby food industry to shape the country’s ‘first-food system’, and in doing so, promote and sustain CMF consumption. We further investigate how breastfeeding coalitions and advocates have resisted these strategies, and generated political commitment for a world-leading breastfeeding policy framework and protection law (the ‘Milk Code’). We used a case study design and process tracing method, drawing from documentary and interview data.ResultsThe decline in breastfeeding in the Philippines in the mid-twentieth Century associated with intensive BMS marketing via health systems and consumer advertising. As regulations tightened, the industry more aggressively promoted CMFs for older infants and young children, thereby ‘marketing around’ the Milk Code. It established front groups to implement political strategies intended to weaken the country’s breastfeeding policy framework while also fostering a favourable image. This included lobbying government officials and international organizations, emphasising its economic importance and threats to foreign investment and trade, direct litigation against the government, messaging that framed marketing in terms of women’s choice and empowerment, and forging partnerships. A resurgence in breastfeeding from the mid-1980s onwards reflected strengthening political commitment for a national breastfeeding policy framework and Milk Code, resulting in-turn, from collective actions by breastfeeding coalitions, advocates and mothers.ConclusionThe Philippines illustrates the continuing battle for worldwide Code implementation, and in particular, how the baby food industry uses and adapts its market and political practices to promote and sustain CMF markets. Our results demonstrate that this industry’s political practices require much greater scrutiny. Furthermore, that mobilizing breastfeeding coalitions, advocacy groups and mothers is crucial to continually strengthen and protect national breastfeeding policy frameworks and Code implementation.

Corporate political activity of the baby food industry in France

Abstract Background There is growing evidence that the ‘corporate political activity' (CPA) of the food industry is a major barrier to the development and implementation of public health policies to promote healthy food environments. The CPA, by targeting the public and health professionals, amongst others, could also promote the consumption of industrial foods, including ultra-processed ones, which is known to lead to ill-health. The purpose of the present study was to map the actors, history and the CPA of the baby food industry in France. Methods The study consisted of an analysis of publicly available information for data published between May 2019 and April 2021. Interviews with key informants from academia, civil society and the government served to triangulate that information. For both parts of the study, a qualitative thematic analysis was conducted, using an existing classification of the CPA. Results During the study period, Danone and Nestlé used action-based ‘instrumental strategies'. The most prominent strategy was ‘information strategy', used to fund, produce, and disseminate industry-preferred information. Danone and Nestlé were further found to ‘establish relationships with key opinion leaders and health organisations', such as pediatric societies, ‘seek involvement in community', especially during the Covid-19 crisis and used voluntary commitments, a practice that may help avoid the mandatory regulation of their harmful products and practices. The companies also employed argument-based ‘discursive strategies' to frame the debate on diet- and public health-related issues. Conclusions These findings can be used to recognize, anticipate, and address CPA practices that may negatively influence infant, child and maternal health, by ensuring that the commercial interests of the industry do not prevail over public health goals. Key messages The baby food industry uses a range of political practices in France, which may negatively influence infant, child and maternal health. This study seeks to uncover and describe these practices. This research will serve us both for the political environment, an advocacy work, but also to broaden scientific knowledge on the subject, in France and internationally.

Breastfeeding During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious challenge to the lactating women to practice optimal infant and young child feeding. Although international and national agencies developed appropriate evidence-based guidelines early in the pandemic, availability of this information to the mothers and their caregivers needs to be enhanced. This becomes important in view of apprehension about the risk of a decline in breastfeeding practices during the pandemic due to various factors. Any decrease in the breastfeeding rates may lead to increased childhood morbidity, mortality, and malnutrition. This article provides a glimpse of available evidence-based guidelines on breastfeeding by Covid-19 positive mothers and attempts by the baby food industry to exploit the situation by promoting their products. The article also deals with infection prevention and control measures to be observed by the mother while caring and breastfeeding her baby and other action required to protect breastfeeding from commercial influence.

What You Don't Know About the Codex Can Hurt You: How Trade Policy Trumps Global Health Governance in Infant and Young Child Nutrition.

Background: International food standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), have become more prominent in international trade politics, since being referenced by various World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. We examine how this impacts implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Methods: Using trade in commercial milk formulas (CMFs) as a case study, we collected detailed data on interventions across various WTO bodies between 1995 and 2019. We used language from these interventions to guide data collection on member state and observer positions during the CAC review of the Codex Standard for Follow-up Formula (CSFUF), and during CAC discussions on the relevance of WHO policies and guidelines. Results: Exporting member states made 245 interventions regarding CMFs at the WTO, many citing deviations from standards set by the CAC. These did not occur in formal disputes, but in WTO Committee and Accession processes, toward many countries. In Thailand, complaints are linked to weakened regulation. Exporters also sought to narrow the CSFUF at the CAC in a way that is at odds with recommendations in the International Code. Tensions are growing more broadly within the CAC regarding relevance of WHO recommendations. Countries coordinated during WTO committee processes to advocate for reapportioning core WHO funding to the CAC and in order to further influence standard-setting. Conclusion: The commercial interests of the baby food industry are magnifying inconsistencies between health guidelines set by the WHO, standard-setting at the CAC, and functions of the WTO. This poses serious concerns for countries’ abilities to regulate in the interests of public health, in this case to protect breastfeeding and its benefits for the health of infants, children and mothers.

Implementation of the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes in Vietnam: Marketing Practices by the Industry and Perceptions of Caregivers and Health Workers.

Background: The promotion of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) is an important barrier to successful breastfeeding. Objective: To examine the enactment and implementation of the Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes (the Code) in Vietnam with a focus on marketing practices by the baby food industry and perceptions of caregivers, health workers, and policy makers. Methods: From May to July 2020, we conducted a mixed-method, cross-sectional study including a survey of 268 pregnant women and 726 mothers of infants aged 0–11 months and in-depth interviews with a subset of interviewed women (n = 39), policy makers, media executives, and health workers (n = 31). Results: In the previous 30 days, two mothers (out of 726) participating in the quantitative survey reported that health workers had recommended BMS, at private hospitals in both cases. In-depth interviews with health workers showed that hospitals have internal procedures to prevent the promotion of BMS by health workers. However, companies employed representatives to promote products not covered under the Code (e.g., commercial milk formula for pregnant women) at antenatal care visits and by gaining contact information from women and using this information to promote BMS outside the hospital, often on social media. In the 30 days preceding the survey, one-fifth of pregnant women were exposed to promotions of commercial milk formula for pregnant women and 7.1% to promotions of BMS. Among mothers of infants, 7.3% and 10.7% of respondents with infants aged 0–5 and 6–11 months, respectively, were exposed to some form of BMS promotion in the past 30 days. Around the time of birth, parents commonly brought BMS to maternity facilities (52.5%) or purchased it nearby (35.4%). Conclusions: Although Vietnam has a strong regulatory environment for the protection, promotion, and support of breastfeeding, there are implementation, monitoring, and enforcement gaps. Stronger enforcement of national policies to regulate the presence of BMS industry representatives in health facilities—both public and private—and the promotion of BMS products on digital platforms are needed.

Globalization, first-foods systems transformations and corporate power: a synthesis of literature and data on the market and political practices of the transnational baby food industry

BackgroundThe global milk formula market has ‘boomed’ in recent decades, raising serious concerns for breastfeeding, and child and maternal health. Despite these developments, few studies have investigated the global expansion of the baby food industry, nor the market and political practices corporations have used to grow and sustain their markets. In this paper, our aim is to understand the strategies used by the baby food industry to shape ‘first-foods systems’ across its diverse markets, and in doing so, drive milk formula consumption on a global scale. We used a theoretically guided synthesis review method, which integrated diverse qualitative and quantitative data sources.ResultsGlobal milk formula sales grew from ~US$1.5 billion in 1978 to US$55.6 billion in 2019. This remarkable expansion has occurred along two main historical axes. First, the widening geographical reach of the baby food industry and its marketing practices, both globally and within countries, as corporations have pursued new growth opportunities, especially in the Global South. Second, the broadening of product ranges beyond infant formula, to include an array of follow-up, toddler and specialized formulas for a wider range of age groups and conditions, thereby widening the scope of mother-child populations subject to commodification. Sophisticated marketing techniques have been used to grow and sustain milk formula consumption, including marketing through health systems, mass-media and digital advertising, and novel product innovations backed by corporate science. To enable and sustain this marketing, the industry has engaged in diverse political practices to foster favourable policy, regulatory and knowledge environments. This has included lobbying international and national policy-makers, generating and deploying favourable science, leveraging global trade rules and adopting corporate policies to counter regulatory action by governments.ConclusionThe baby food industry uses integrated market and political strategies to shape first-foods systems in ways that drive and sustain milk formula market expansion, on a global scale. Such practices are a major impediment to global implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and other policy actions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding. New modalities of public health action are needed to negate the political practices of the industry in particular, and ultimately to constrain corporate power over the mother-child breastfeeding dyad.

Methodology and indicators for NBCAL monitoring in stores and health services: a multicenter study (Multi-NBCAL).

The Brazilian Code of Marketing of Infant and Toddlers Food, Nipples, Pacifiers and Baby Bottles (NBCAL), in force in Brazil since 1988, is still systematically violated, exposing mothers and family members to illegal marketing of products that compete with breastfeeding. This study aimed to describe a multicenter study methodology and propose standardized indicators for NBCAL monitoring. This is a Multicenter Study for NBCAL Compliance Assessment (Multi-NBCAL) conducted in seven Brazilian cities: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Ouro Preto (Minas Gerais State), Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State), Brasília (Federal District), João Pessoa (Paraíba State), and Belém (Pará State). Assessment tools were adapted from NetCode/WHO and IBFAN Brazil (International Baby Food Action Network) to conduct two evaluations: (1) evaluation of NBCAL compliance in stores, and NBCAL knowledge and practices of store managers; (2) evaluation of the interaction between the baby food industry and health professionals and post-partum mothers in maternity hospitals. Five indicators were developed to assess NBCAL compliance in stores; seven indicators to assess the knowledge and practices of store managers; five indicators to assess the provision of incentives to maternity hospitals, health professionals, and mothers by sectors; and five indicators to assess NBCAL knowledge and practices of health professionals. The NBCAL assessment methodology with the proposal of standardized indicators allows comparability of studies about this theme. Using these indicators in periodic national or regional investigation can help monitor the level of NBCAL implementation in Brazil.

Dietary Chloride Deficiency Syndrome: Pathophysiology, History, and Systematic Literature Review.

Metabolic alkalosis may develop as a consequence of urinary chloride (and sodium) wasting, excessive loss of salt in the sweat, or intestinal chloride wasting, among other causes. There is also a likely underrecognized association between poor salt intake and the mentioned electrolyte and acid–base abnormality. In patients with excessive loss of salt in the sweat or poor salt intake, the maintenance of metabolic alkalosis is crucially modulated by the chloride–bicarbonate exchanger pendrin located on the renal tubular membrane of type B intercalated cells. In the late 1970s, recommendations were made to decrease the salt content of foods as part of an effort to minimize the tendency towards systemic hypertension. Hence, the baby food industry decided to remove added salt from formula milk. Some weeks later, approximately 200 infants (fed exclusively with formula milks with a chloride content of only 2–4 mmol/L), were admitted with failure to thrive, constipation, food refusal, muscular weakness, and delayed psychomotor development. The laboratory work-up disclosed metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and a reduced urinary chloride excretion. In all cases, both the clinical and the laboratory features remitted in ≤7 days when the infants were fed on formula milk with a normal chloride content. Since 1982, 13 further publications reported additional cases of dietary chloride depletion. It is therefore concluded that the dietary intake of chloride, which was previously considered a “mendicant” ion, plays a crucial role in acid–base and salt balance.

First-food systems transformations and the ultra-processing of infant and young child diets: The determinants, dynamics and consequences of the global rise in commercial milk formula consumption.

The inappropriate marketing and aggressive promotion of breastmilk substitutes (BMS) undermines breastfeeding and harms child and maternal health in all country contexts. Although a global milk formula ‘sales boom’ is reportedly underway, few studies have investigated its dynamics and determinants. This study takes two steps. First, it describes trends and patterns in global formula sales volumes (apparent consumption), by country income and region. Data are reported for 77 countries, for the years 2005–19, and for the standard (0–6 months), follow‐up (7‐12 m), toddler (13‐36 m), and special (0‐6 m) categories. Second, it draws from the literature to understand how transformations underway in first‐food systems – those that provision foods for children aged 0–36 months – explain the global transition to higher formula diets. Total world formula sales grew by 115% between 2005 and 2019, from 3.5 to 7.4 kg/child, led by highly‐populated middle‐income countries. Growth was rapid in South East and East Asia, especially in China, which now accounts for one third of world sales. This transition is linked with factors that generate demand for BMS, including rising incomes, urbanisation, the changing nature of woman's work, social norms, media influences and medicalisation. It also reflects the globalization of the baby food industry and its supply chains, including the increasing intensity and sophistication of its marketing practices. Policy and regulatory frameworks designed to protect, promote and support breastfeeding are partially or completely inadequate in the majority of countries, hence supporting industry expansion over child nutrition. The results raise serious concern for global child and maternal health.

Sweet Snack Foods Are Promoted by the Baby Food Industry: A Survey of Baby Foods in the UK

Abstract Objectives Snacking is nor part of UK complementary feeding recommendations, but 60% of UK infants aged 7–10 months consume home-made and/or commercial baby snacks. We aimed to explore trends in the availability of commercial baby snacks in the UK food market over time. Methods We surveyed all infant food products available to buy in the UK, online and in-store, n 2019 and used our own 2010–2011 data for comparison. Product type [wet purees or dry (snacks)] were recorded at both time points. In 2019 for snack products we recorded main types, feeding claims on product packaging and sugar content. Results The total number of products available in 2010–11 and 2019 was 482 and 865 respectively. The proportion of snacks had doubled between 2010–11 (42, 10%; P = 0.001) and 2019 (185, 21%), while the proportion of wet, pureed foods decreased (2010–11 326, 79%; 2019 611, 71%; P = 0.001) and in 2019 were mainly supplied in pouches (453, 74%). The commonest snack types in 2019 were corn based flavoured with fruit or vegetables (40%; of which 12% fruit flavoured), dried fruit (15%), fruit or vegetables mixed with cereals (22% of which 88% were fruit based), biscuits (18%), and rice cakes flavoured with fruit or vegetables (8%). In 2019 front of package feeding claims were observed on 43% of snacks, referring to them as ‘finger foods’ (25%), ‘encourages self-feeding’ (10%), ‘perfect for teething’ (4%) or a mixture of these (3%). Sugar content [N, g/100 g median (Q1, Q3)] was higher than the 5 g/100 g recommended threshhold for all dried fruit [19, 61(38, 64], fruit or vegetable with cereals [42, 26(18, 29)], biscuits [34, 19(15, 22)] and rice cakes [34, 19(15, 22)]. Corn snacks [75, 4(2, 6)] mainly met the sugar content threshold. Conclusions Sweet commercial baby snacks are a prominent feature of the UK food environment. Regulations on feeding claims and sugar content are urgently needed. Funding Sources No funding sources to declare.