EFSA Opens Public Consultation on Infant Formula Requirements

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation
on its draft scientific opinion determining “the essential composition of
infant and infant follow-on formulae.” Drawing on new evidence as well as
dietary intake guidelines for infants and young children, the draft opinion
addresses requirements for protein, fat, carbohydrates, micronutrients, and
other ingredients found in formula. It also notes that nutrients should be
added to formula only “in amounts that serve a nutritional or other benefit.”

Among other things, the agency concluded that (i) “cow’s milk, goat’s milk and isolated soy protein are safe and suitable sources of protein for use in infant and infant follow-on formula based on intact protein”; (ii) “formulae containing protein hydrolysates are insufficiently characterized by the declared protein content even if they fulfill regulatory criteria concerning amino acid patterns and contents”; (iii) “infant and follow-on formula should provide indispensable and conditionally indispensable amino acids in amounts at least equal to those found in breast milk, irrespective of the protein source”; (iv) “it is not necessary to add arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, chromium, taurine, nucleotides, non-digestible oligosaccharides, ‘probiotics’ or ‘synbiotics’ to infant and follow-on formula”; and (v) “for follow-on formula, unlike with infant formula, the addition of l-carnitine, inositol and choline is not necessary.” EFSA will accept comments on the draft opinion until May 29, 2014. See EFSA News Release, April 24, 2014.

Issue 521