Prebiotics now allowed in infant formula

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has approved the addition of prebiotics  to infant formula after an extensive safety review (1). Prebiotics  are dietary components that provide food for the gut bacteria. The prebiotics that can be added are inulin derived substances  (inulin, long chain inulin and oligofructose) and galacto-oligosaccharides (2). They can be added singularly, in combination or in any ratio up to a specified level.  The addition is optional, so there will still be a choice of formulas with or without these ingredients.

This change to the infant formula standard helps  bring infant formula a little bit closer in composition to breast milk. Breast milk contains a wide and varying range of oligosaccharides, often called the "bifidus factor" which function as prebiotics in the infant's bowel. They encourage the growth of the good bacteria Bifidobacterium (the predominant bacteria in teh breast fed baby) which enhances the immune system protecting the breast fed baby from infections and helps produce softer and more frequent bowel motions.

Inulin is a non digestible carbohydrate and fructan found in vegetables, fruits and cereals such as leeks, onions, garlic, wheat, banana and chicory. Oligofructose is produced from inulin by enzymatic breakdown. Galacto-oligosaccharides are produced from lactose.

The inulin derived substances and galacto-oligosaccharides have physiologically similar effects to breast milk oligosaccharides. They pass undigested to the large bowel where they are fermented by the colonic bacteria encouraging the growth of Bifidobacterium. They also help produce softer and more frequent bowel motions. When added to infant formula they protect the infant from gastrointestinal infections (3).

An excess of inulin can cause diarrhoea and possibly dehydration, so there is a limit as to how much can be added to infant formula.

Approval has also been given for these substances to be added as optional ingredients to infant foods (4) and toddler milks (5). Heinz Nurture Standard and Gold Toddler milk contain the prebiotic inulin.

References.

1.FSANZ. Addition of Inulin/FOS and GOS to Food. Proposal P306. First review report 11th November 2008  www.foodstandards.gov.au

2.FSANZ. Infant Formula Products Standard 2.9.1, Clause 9A. Food Standards Code.

3. Bruzzese E, Volpicelli M et al. A formula containing galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides prevents intestinal and extra-intestinal infections: An observational study. Clinical Nutrition 2009, doi:10.1016/jclnu.2009.01.008

4. FSANZ. Foods For infants Standard 2.9.2, Clause 2(2). Food Standards Code

5. FSANZ. Formulated Supplementary Foods for Young Children. Standard 2.9.3, Division 4, caluse 6(4). Food Standards Code.