Voluntary addition of fluoride to bottled water

Up until now, bottled or packaged water has not been permitted to contain added fluoride. This has now changed, with the recent approval by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) of the voluntary addition of fluoride to bottled or packaged water. Manufacturers will be able to add flouride to a level similar to that in tap water ( 0.6-1.0mg/litre). As the addition  is voluntary, unfluoridated bottled water will be still be available. The label will indicate whether the water contains flouride (1).

Fortification of bread with folic acid and iodine

Folic acid and iodine are two important nutrients necessary for the healthy development of infants and children, beginning from the time of conception. To reduce the risk of women of child bearing age and children not receiving enough of these nutrients, bread will be required by law to contain added folic acid ( from September 2009) and added iodine ( from October 2009). Folic acid will be added to wheat flour used for making bread and bread products containing yeast, while iodine will be added as iodised salt, replacing non iodised salt. Organic breads and bread products will not have to contain added folic acid and iodine and salt free breads will not contain iodine (1,2).

Infant Nutrition Council

The Infant Formula Manufacturers' Association of Australia (IFMAA) and the New Zealand Infant Formula Marketers' Association (NZIFMA) have amalgamated into one body, the Infant Nutrition Council, to represent the infant formula industry both in Australia and New Zealand. The Heinz Company is a member of the Council.

Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Guidelines for Early Childhood

The Commonwealth Government is funding the development of guidelines on healthy eating and physical activity for children 0-5 years attending early childhood settings such as  childcare, preschools and family day care.  The guidelines are part of the government's plan to prevent overweight and obesity in young children. The guidelines will be evidence based and will contain practical information on how they can be implemented. The project is being co-ordinated by Early Childhood Australia. More information is available at www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

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).

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.

New Alcohol Guidelines for Australians

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)  has released new guidelines on how much alcohol Australians can safely consume in order to avoid or reduce any adverse health effects.

Sodium Content of Heinz Infant and Little Kids foods

The Australian and New Zealand Food Satndards Code (1) has strict regulations governing the sodium content of infant formulas (Standard 2.9.1) and infant foods (Standard 2.9.2).

Is the childhood obesity epidemic overstated?

Questions are being raised as to whether there is a childhood obesity epidemic 'spiralling out of control' and whether community based preventative strategies to prevent overweight and obesity in children are appropriate. The recent Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey ( Kids Eat Kids Play) found that 17% of children aged 2-16 years were overweight and 6% obese (1).

Should infants be demand weaned?

When to introduce solids can be an emotionally charged subject for both health professionals and parents/carers. While most health professionals follow age recommendations from health authorities, such recommendations may not sit comfortably with a mother who feels her infant is giving her cues that he either needs solids earlier or later than recommended.  Just as demand feeding is now an accepted practice for giving milk feeds, is it now time to recognise and accept the concept of demand weaning?