Health claims lacking support by internationally recognized scientific evidence were found on foods for infants and young children.
The Consumer Council and Centre for Food Safety joined hands to study the nutrition labelling and related claims on prepackaged foods for children under 36 months old. Relevant Codex standards and guidelines were used as main references for comparing the nutrition information and claims found on the samples.
A total of 117 samples were surveyed, including 46 processed cereal-based (e.g. cereals to be consumed with the addition of milk or water, teething rusk, rice cracker, biscuit, etc.) and 71 canned food (e.g. fruit and vegetable puree, fruit and vegetable juice, chicken stew, beef stew, pudding, risotto, pasta), purchased from supermarkets and other retail outlets.
The study found 4 health claims involving 4 samples were not supported by internationally recognized scientific evidence:
Vitamin E and immune system: 2 samples claimed "Vitamin E….for natural immune support" on their packing, but the cause and effect relationship between the dietary intake of vitamin E and maintenance of the normal function of the immune system is yet to be established.
Choline and eye development: 1 sample labelled "…Choline helps support…eye development". The relationship between dietary intake of choline and eye development of infants remains to be supported confirmed by internationally recognized scientific evidence.
Probiotic and immunity/ Probiotic and allergies: 1 sample labelled "Probiotic immunity support" and "Probiotic …protect against the development of allergies". But currently there is no internationally recognized scientific evidence that supports the microorganisms contained in the sample can effectively support immune system. The relationship between the food concerned and prevention of allergies has neither been established.
CFS is taking follow-up actions on the 4 samples above-mentioned to check if there is any violation of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.
The labelling of 1 sample was considered as likely to cause confusion:
DHA and immunity: 1 sample put "DHA" and "babies immunity" in the same boxed area on the product package. The link between DHA and immunity is not yet substantiated by internationally recognized scientific evidence, and the presentation of the statement might lead the consumers to associate DHA with immunity. The trade is advised to avoid such presentation method which is deemed undesirable.
The Codex Standard for Processed Cereal-based Foods for Infants and Young Children and Codex Standard for Canned Baby Foods require relevant food products to label the content of energy, protein, total fat and carbohydrates (1+3). In the case of cereal-based foods, the Codex standard requires the labelling of the content of sodium and vitamin B1 additionally.
Locally, the current nutrition labelling scheme under the Food and Drugs (Composition and Labelling) Regulation is not applicable to prepackaged food intended to be consumed principally by children under the age of 36 months. However, the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance prohibits false or misleading labelling of foods for sale.
Among the 117 surveyed samples, 80 of them provided a list of nutrients in English/Chinese, in which 79 of them (68% of total samples) provided the labelling of 1+3, the basic requirement of Codex.
For the 46 cereal-based samples, 29 of them provided a list of nutrients in English/Chinese, in which 27 of them (93% of 29) provided the numerical content of sodium, 18 of them (62% of 29) provided the content of vitamin B1.
It was found that 33 samples among the 117 surveyed samples had at least one nutrition claim or health claim in English/Chinese.
The Council urges the trade to take reference from relevant Codex standards to label 1+3. All information on product packages, including nutrition labels and related claims, should be accurate and not misleading.
In order to regulate manufacturers and distributors of breastmilk substitutes and related products to prevent them from advertising and marketing their products by way of malpractices, a Hong Kong Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code) is being prepared by a Task Force established by the Department of Health since end of June 2010. The taskforce recommends to incorporate requirements on nutritional composition, labelling and related claims of breastmilk substitutes and related products (including foods intended to be consumed by children under 36 months) in the Code.
The trade is encouraged to observe the development of the Code closely and follow the requirements stipulated.
Parents are advised to read the nutrition labels and ingredient lists when choosing prepackaged baby food for their children.
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- 2012.04.16