Change to minimum age labelling on infant foods put on hold

It has been nearly 5 years since Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) put forward Proposal P274, Review of Minimum Age Labelling of Foods For Infants (1). This proposal looked at changing the minimum age labelling  required on infant foods from 4 months (2) to around 6 months to bring it in line with the then newly released Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (3).  Since this time consultations have taken place, with FSANZ's final report  recommending that the minimum age labelling in Standard 2.9.2 be changed to around 6 months (4).

Recent reports in the scientific literature and discussions with health professionals are now suggesting that the minmum age labelling should not change. The Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) now advises that solids be introduced between 4 to 6 months when the infant is developmentally ready as delaying solids beyond 6 months does not prevent allergy (5). The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) is also recommending that solids be introduced between 17 weeks and 26 weeks (6). With the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents currently under review, FSANZ has decided to put on hold any changes to the minimum age labelling on infant foods pending the outcome of the revised guidelines which are expected to be released in 2010 (7).

References.

1.FSANZ. Draft Assessment Report. Proposal P274. Review of Minimum Age Labelling of Foods For Infants. 20th October 2004. www.foodstandards.gov.au

2.FSANZ. Standard 2.9.2 Foods For Infants. Food Standards Code

3.NHMRC. Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia 2003. Commonwealth of Australia

4.FSANZ. Preliminary Final Assessment Report P274 review of Minimum Age Labelling of Foods For Infants. 6th August 2008 www.foodstandards.gov.au

5.ASCIA Infant Feeding Advice 2008. www.allergy.org.au

6.Agnostini C, Decsi T et al. Complementary Feeding: A Commentary by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2008;46(1):99-110

7. FSANZ. Food Standard News Autumn 2009. www.foodstandards.gov.au/newsroom/foodstandardsnews