CODEX COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION AND FOODS FOR SPECIAL DIETARY USES (CCNFSDU)
Draft Standard for Foods for Older Infants and Young Children
Baby Milk Action attends Codex either as IBFAN, ENCA or sometimes as IACFO. Here are the comments that we have submitted for the Electronic Working Group (EWG) the proposed standard for baby foods.
Please accept the ENCA comments on this document.
ENCA supports IBFANs comments and challenges the notion that there is widespread need for commercial products specifically designed for infants and young children as a main complementary food source. We believe that confidence in bio-diverse, minimally processed, healthier home-prepared family foods is undermined by the promotion of commercial products as necessary and health-promoting. Commercially processed and sweetened food products may undermine self-regulation, induce unhealthy food preferences and promote child obesity
This said ENCA is in agreement with the proposal to revise and/or update the 2 standards, CXS 73-1981 and CXS 74-1981 as long as they are aligned with the criteria and recommendations adopted by the World Health Assembly. The new Standard should include a clear preamble and nutrition profile guidance and text that explicitly empowers governments to legislate to prevent any potentially harmful marketing of these products, in line with independent scientific advice.
With many thanks, Patti Rundall. on behalf of ENCA