DHA Infant Claims Approved By European Parliament
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 infant claims that apply to formula for infants between the ages of 6-12 months as well as products for infants were approved by the European Parliament in May and entered into European Union law.
As a result of the approval since May 26, 2011, three claims may be made on certain foods on the EU market if specific conditions of use are met. The claims are: 1. DHA intake contributes to the normal visual development of infants up to 12 months of age; 2. DHA maternal intake contributes to the normal development of the eye of the fetus and breastfed infants; 3. DHA maternal intake contributes to the normal brain development of the fetus and breastfed infants. Click here to see the claims as published into EU law.
64th World Health Assemply Meets in Geneva
The 64th World Health Assembly (WHA) took place May 16-24 in Geneva and focused on a number of infant nutrition-related issues, including the implementation plan for infant and young child feeding, the Millennium Development Goals, and a proposed resolution on the reduction of perinatal and neonatal mortality.
Member States discussed the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in regards to maternal, infant and young child nutrition. Still under development, the implementation plan aims to tackle the double burden of under-nutrition and overweight and focuses on early development between conception and the second year of life. International Formula Council (IFC) staff attended the meeting as part of the International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) delegation. Click here for more information about the WHA.
Maryland Becomes Third State to Ban Infant Formula Containing BPA
On May 10, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley signed into law House Bill 4, making Maryland the third state in the U.S. to ban infant formula that is packaged in materials containing bisphenol A (BPA). Beginning July 1, 2014, the new law prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of infant formula in containers with more than 0.5 parts per billion (ppb) of BPA. The law also prohibits the state of Maryland from purchasing infant formula for the state's Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) that is packaged in containers with more than 0.5 ppb of BPA. Click here for more information on House Bill 4.
Maryland joins Connecticut and Vermont as the only U.S. states to have banned infant formula in packaging that contains BPA.
FDA Hosts Workshop on Cargo/Warehouse Theft of Medical Products and Infant Formula
On May 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosted a workshop entitled, “Best Practices for the Prevention of Cargo and Warehouse Theft of FDA-Regulated Medical Products and Infant Formula.” The workshop, which was organized by the Drug Information Association, provided regulators, law enforcement, manufacturers, transporters, and others the opportunity to hear best practices that have been developed by affected industries to prevent and address the growing problem of cargo and warehouse theft.
IFC gave a presentation at the workshop on safeguarding the infant formula supply chain. In addition, the following guidance documents have been posted to the IFC website to help minimize infant formula theft: guidance for retailers regarding purchase and return policies for infant formula products and guidance regarding unsaleable infant formula products.
Infant Feeding Guidelines From ADA PNPG Now Available
The second edition Infant Feeding Guidelines from the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (PNPG) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) titled, “Infant Feedings: Guidelines for Preparation of Human Milk and Formula in Health Care Facilities,” is now available for purchase at EatRight.Org. ADA notes the guidelines are not regulations, but guidance for health care professionals, based on the latest scientific evidence-based research. The goal of these guidelines is to “help ensure that infants at a health care facility receive optimal nutritional care.”
The new guidelines provide detailed information on how to safely prepare, handle, and store infant formula and human breast milk within the health care setting. Updates in this edition of the guidelines include a description for handling infant formula preparation in situations where no feeding preparation room exists and an entire chapter describing safe handling of mother's own milk and donor human milk. Section one presents a summary of infant feeding guidelines and chapters 1-8 contain more detail and technical support as well as documentation of references used to formulate the guidelines.
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