Vitamin D, for example, has to meet the minimum target of 0.36 μg/100 kJ, which is aligned with CODEX standards.
There are currently no minimum levels prescribed for vitamin D and formulations can contain up to a maximum of 0.76 μg/100 kJ.
The name of toddler milk products, designed for kids age one to three, will also be standardized as “Formulated supplementary milk drink for young children”, which the regulator has proposed to be printed on the front-of-pack.
The proposal also prohibits nutrition content and health claims on toddler milk and require such products to be differentiated from infant formula, follow-on formula, special medical purpose product for infants, other formulated supplementary foods for young children, and other foods by the use of text, pictures and/or color.
This is to reflect the true nature of toddler milk, which the FSANZ has categorized as “special purpose foods” intended to supplement the diets of children in cases where usual dietary intakes of energy or specific nutrients may be inadequate.
However, at the moment, such products are often positioned as a routine or beneficial component of healthy young children’s diets.
The new standards could help improve consumer information and reduce the potential for confusion, FSANZ CEO Dr Sandra Cuthbert said.
“We are proposing a clearer and more targeted framework, including revised compositional requirements and strengthened labelling measures to support safe use, improve consumer information and reduce the potential for confusion,” she said.
The regulator has started public consultation on the proposal, which will end on July 7.
Protein
Protein is one of the most talked about macronutrient and FSANZ is proposing that protein used in toddler milk would have to come from common sources such as cow milk, goat milk and soy protein isolate.
The regulator said that this was in response to potential safety risks arising from the use of new and novel protein sources.
Other permitted protein sources proposed include sheep milk and partially hydrolyzed protein.
The regulator’s market survey found that protein sources of toddler milk available in Australia and New Zealand predominantly came from cow milk, with goat and sheep milk products available.
It also found products using plant-based protein, including those from pea, rice and oat milk.
FSANZ said that by aligning the protein sources requirements with that of infant formulas, the industry could benefit from optimization of recipe reformulation, based on the assumption that toddler milk and infant formula products are typically manufactured from the same base milk powders.
Prescribing protein sources also ensures that the protein used in young child formula is nutritionally adequate and safe for vulnerable consumers, it added.
Reformulation and label adjustment
The proposed changes would mean product reformulation and label adjustment for businesses, however, FSANZ said that the industry could benefit from international harmonization, as the proposals were designed with CODEX standards in mind.
CODEX, for example, has made vitamin D an essential nutrient in toddler milk and prescribes minimum and maximum range between 0.36 μg/100 kJ and 1.1 μg/100 kJ.
Based on FSANZ’s market survey, the vitamin D content in toddler milk sold in Australia and New Zealand ranges from 0.17–0.48 μg/100 kJ.
“While this would require recipe adjustment and product reformulation, FSANZ considers these one-off adjustments are outweighed by the long-term benefits for both industry and public health. Industry will benefit from international harmonization, optimization of recipe formulation and overall manufacturing efficiencies,” FSANZ wrote in its proposal.
