Infant nutrition has been in the spotlight, with negative stories in the media often exaggerating the positive. Earlier this year, another Nestlé baby food scandal came to light, while concerns about the ultra-processing of infant formula continue to grow. However, the focus is now shifting to the nutritional value of infant formula, which critics claim is seriously lacking.
"Malnutrition is a universal problem that holds back development with devastating consequences for entire nations. It has a devastating impact on children - dulling their brains, reducing productivity and perpetuating poverty," a UNICEF spokesperson said. "UNICEF and the European Union are committed to scaling up and sustaining our efforts to reach more children."
However, UNICEF also notes that child nutrition is low on the agenda in most European countries and that resources are lacking.
A report published by The Food Foundation in the UK revealed a significant decline in child health, stating that "children in England are now smaller and more likely to be obese and have type 2 diabetes". This has led to campaigners including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, politician Gordon Brown and public health professor Michael Marmot joining The Food Foundation in calling on Britain's new Labour government to urgently address the decline in child health.
Why then is the health of European children so poor? And is children's food so nutritious?
Is there insufficient nutritional value in infant nutrition?
Although many consumers accuse manufacturers of skimping on nutrients, the industry strongly denies such claims.
"Infant foods are highly regulated to ensure safety and quality," Tim Collins, CEO of infant nutrition brand Ella's Kitchen, told FoodNavigator. "The safety of little ones is our top priority and we take our responsibilities seriously by setting strict nutritional guidelines that go above and beyond industry requirements. We only introduce new first-time foods that contain 10% less sugar than our average and have reformulated products to reduce saturated fat and sugar."
But do consumers believe the claims of food manufacturers? It seems not.
A recent report from the EIT Food Consumer Observatory found that less than half (46%) of consumers surveyed said they trust food manufacturers, with 27% actively distrusting them. This distrust extends to all aspects of food production, including health claims, with 44% believing the food they consume is healthy. As a result, consumers are less likely to believe health and nutrition claims on food packaging, including food made specifically for children.
This lack of trust is a concern for baby food manufacturers.
"Our concern is that if parents are pushed out of the children's aisle, little ones will eat snacks that are not appropriate for their age, are not as tightly regulated and are much higher in fat, salt and sugar. Children's products must continue to offer a healthier alternative," Collins added.
There is also the issue of a child's ability to eat foods that are not specifically formulated for his or her age, particularly in terms of firmness and texture.
"We did research that showed 53% of parents are unaware of the importance of building texture," Mandy Bobrowski, director of marketing at Organix, told FoodNavigator.
How can food manufacturers encourage parents and caregivers to continue buying food designed specifically for children?
Encourage parents to purchase specially formulated foods for children
Experts agree that addressing the primary concerns of parents and caregivers is the best way to encourage them to buy. In this case, promoting verified health claims and underlining the regulations imposed on the industry would help.
"The industry needs to focus on developing products that taste great, offer value for money and deliver good health," said Collins of Ella's Kitchen.
Why are children in Europe malnourished?
The realization that child-specific foods are not the cause of children's declining nutrition leads to the conclusion that children are not getting the right nutrients from the other foods they consume as part of their diet. Furthermore, many children are not eating child-specific foods, making the consumption of the required nutrients in the form of fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, etc. even more important.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 78.8% of children eat breakfast, often considered the most important meal of the day. Furthermore, only 42.5% eat fresh fruit and 22.6% eat fresh vegetables every day.
"Urgent action is needed to promote healthy eating habits among children in all countries of the European Region, in particular to increase daily consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables," a WHO spokesperson said.
What can be done to improve children's nutrition?
In response to declining nutritional levels in children, WHO has developed an action plan for countries in Europe and the rest of the world.
- Regulate the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks to children.
- Implement the WHO recommended labeling rules for food manufacturers.
- Encourage the reformulation of foods high in sugar, fat and salt.
- Introduce tax incentives, such as a tax on sugary drinks.
- Promote access to healthy and nutritious foods in schools, other public institutions - through the implementation of sound public policies for food procurement and services - and in underserved communities.
- Support initiatives to monitor children's eating habits, anthropometric measurements and food environments to monitor the impact of policies.
