Negative stories about infant nutrition are often overplayed in the media, while positive stories are rarely mentioned. For example, earlier this year, another Nestle baby formula scamConcerns about the ultra-processed foods for childrencontinue to grow. Attention has shifted to the nutritional content of the foods children eat, which critics say is seriously inadequate.
Malnutrition has devastating effects on entire countries. The UNICEF spokesperson said that malnutrition has devastating effects on children. It dulls their intellect and reduces their productivity. UNICEF and the European Union are committed to maintaining and intensifying their efforts to reach more children.
UNICEF notes that child nutrition is still not a priority in many European national programmes and is under-resourced.
The Food Foundation has released a report in the UK that has revealed a decline in children's health. It said: "Children in England are shorter now and more likely than ever to be obese and have type 2 diabetes." The Food Foundation has teamed up with celebrities including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and politician Gordon Brown, as well as public health professor Michael Marmot to urge Britain to act. New Labour GovernmentThe decline in children's health care needs to be addressed urgently.
Why is child health in Europe so poor? Are children's foods nutritionally deficient?
What about the nutrition of children's food?
Many consumers are quick to accuse manufacturers of cutting back on nutrition, but the industry rejects these claims.
Tim Collins, managing director of Ella's Kitchen, a children's food brand, told FoodNavigator that "children's food is heavily regulated to ensure safety and quality. We take children's safety very seriously and set strict nutritional guidelines that go beyond industry standards. "We only launch new food products with 10% less sugar than our product range average and have reformulated some products to reduce sugar and saturated fat."
Do consumers really believe what food producers say? The answer is no.
Recent reports from the Observatory EIT food consumersLess than half of consumers surveyed (46 %) said they trust food manufacturers. 27 % distrust these companies. Distrust extends to all areas of food production, even health claims. 44 % believe that food is nutritious. This distrust even extends to foods intended for children.
Lack of trust is a concern for manufacturers of children's food products.
We are concerned that if parents are forced to leave the children's aisle, their children may eat unhealthy snacks, which will not be age-appropriate, will not be as strictly regulated and will contain more sugar, fat and salt. Collins adds that children's products must continue to offer a healthy alternative.
It is important to consider a child's ability to consume foods that are not age-appropriate, particularly in terms of texture and firmness.
Mandy Bobrowski, the marketing director for Organix, told FoodNavigator that according to their research, 53% of parents are unaware of the importance of texture.
How can food manufacturers encourage parents to buy food for their children?
Encourage parents to buy food for their children
Experts agree that the best way for parents to buy is to address their primary concerns. Promoting verified health claims and highlighting the regulations imposed on the industry will help in this situation.
Collins of Ella's Kitchen says the industry needs to focus on creating products that are tasty, affordable and deliver good health results.
What are the causes of malnutrition in children?
Knowing that the decline in child nutrition is not due to specially formulated foods for children, we can conclude that children are not getting the right nutrients through the foods they consume as part of their daily diet. Furthermore, many children do not consume any foods formulated for children. This makes it all the more crucial to ensure that they are getting the necessary nutrients from fruits, vegetables and meat.
The World Health Organization reports that only 78.8% of children eat breakfast. Breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day. Only 42.5% of children eat fruits and vegetables every day.
A WHO spokesperson said that "urgent action is needed to promote healthy diets among children in all countries in the European region. This includes increasing daily consumption of fruits and vegetables."
How can we improve children's nutrition?
WHO has developed an international action plan to combat the decline in child nutrition.
- The marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks to children should be restricted.
- Labelling guidelines for food producers should be based on WHO recommendations.
- Reformulation of foods high in fat, sugar and salt should be encouraged.
- Introduce tax incentives, such as a tax on sugary drinks.
- Implementing healthy food policies in public and private institutions, schools and underserved areas will facilitate access to nutritious and healthy food.
- Monitor the impact of the policy by supporting monitoring initiatives that measure children's eating habits, anthropometric measurements and food environment.
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