Vitamins in Food for Infants and Young Children 2005

The levels of vitamins permitted in cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children are governed by The Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children Regulations 2003 which implement European Directive 1996/5 on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children. These regulations updated and revoked The Processed Cereal-based Foods and Baby Foods for Infants and Young Children Regulations 1997 and came into force on 6 March 2005.

The regulations apply to all food for infants and young children in good health apart from infant formula and follow-on formula. The regulations define two categories - (1) cereal-based processed foods and (2) Baby foods.

For the purpose of the regulations 'infants' are defined as children under the age of twelve months and 'young children' as children between one and three years of age. Criteria for the manufacturing and labelling of such foods are prescribed and the composition of the food must comply with these criteria.

The aim of the survey was to determine levels of vitamins in various types of food for infants and young children available on retail sale where a claim is made. The levels found were compared with those declared, and the found and declared levels were assessed for compliance with the maxima and minima permitted by the regulations. The product labels were also assessed for compliance with the regulations.

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