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Nestle baby food after 6 months


Stages, When To Start, And How To Feed

Yes, cerelac comes in stages to cater to your baby's age-appropriate needs.

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Cerelac baby food is a popular instant cereal produced by Nestle. It is developed for various age groups depending on the nutritional needs of that particular age group. However, the manufacturer advises that Cerelac must be used for babies above six months of age when the mother’s milk alone is not enough to provide the necessary nutrition for the growth and development of the child. When introduced initially, Cerelac must be used by mixing it in breastmilk or formula milk. Read this post to know more about the different types, advantages, drawbacks of Cerelac, and recipes to make Cerelac at home for babies.

Types of Cerelac

Cerelac comes in a wide range of instant cereals for babies. These are formulated based on the age of the baby:

  • Stage 1 (six months onwards): Formulated for babies who are six months old, it is available in three basic variants – Cerelac Wheat, Rice, and Maize. Any of these variants can be given to the baby as a first food. These cereals are gelatin-free and are easy to digest.
  • Stage 2 (eight months onwards): It is available in two variants – Banana and Honey.
  • Stage 3 (ten months onwards): This version contains real fruit pieces of different textures and tastes for babies who have developed the ability to chew.
  • Stage 4 (12 to 18 months): The babies are now ready to try the food the family is eating and hence can be presented with a wide array of choices. A few of the options available in this range are multigrain and fruits, multigrain and pulse, and multigrain and vegetables.
  • Stage 5 (18 to 24 months): At this stage, the product contains fruits in textured shapes as the babies can now chew the food given to them.

Note: Almost all varities of cerelac contain skimmed milk as an ingredient. If the child is lactose-intolerant, consult your pediatrician regarding this. Several variants of Cerelac contain wheat flour as their main ingredient. If your baby is allergic to wheat or has gluten allergy, then talk to their doctor before feeding wheat variants.

When Can Babies Start Eating Cerelac?

Image: Shutterstock

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the introduction of solid foods during 4 to 6 months of age (1).

Related: Top 10 Food Ideas For Your 4 Months Baby

The gag reflex, which prevents choking in babies, begins to decline by five months (2). However, if you wish to start solids, under the guidance advice of a pediatrician, you may start feeding solids before the age of six months provided the following markers of development are met (3):

  1. The baby can hold the neck straight without support and has reasonable neck control.
  1. The baby can sit with little or no support.
  1. The baby opens the mouth voluntarily and leans forward to take food.

If your baby shows signs of readiness, do not hesitate to consult a pediatrician and start complementary foods like Cerelac earlier than six months but not before four months.

Even after you introduce solid foods, you should continue breastfeeding beyond one year and more.

Why You Should Not Feed Cerelac Too Early

You can decide the right time to start solids under pediatric guidance. But it is best to avoid starting solids before four months of age due to the following reasons (4):

  1. There is a risk of choking since gag reflex is still underdeveloped.
  1. Introducing complementary food early reduces the frequency of breastfeeding. This may lead to low iron stores in infants since the highly bio-available iron in breastmilk is replaced by added iron of complementary feed (5).

Related: How Is Breast Milk Made During Pregnancy & Interesting Facts

  1. Digestive issues might crop up as the baby’s digestive system is still developing.
  1. Disturbance of gut microbiota may cause some health issues.
  1. It might result in overfeeding, that could lead to excessive weight gain.
  1. There is a risk of allergies since the immune system is still under-developed.

The changes in the infant gut microbiota at an early age may have its implications throughout childhood and adulthood too. So, the age of the baby should always be considered while planning to start solids.

If Cerelac is introduced at the right time, it could have some advantages.

Advantages Of Cerelac

Cerelac is an instant or ready-to-eat baby food developed to support the growing nutritional needs of a baby. Parents and caregivers buy it for the following reasons:

  • Easy availability
  • Instant preparation
  • Travel-friendly
  • Free from preservatives, added colors, and flavors
  • But most importantly, its semi-solid texture, just like porridge, is easy for a baby to swallow. Also, its basic ingredients like rice are easy on the baby’s digestive system, which is still immature.
  • Nutritionally, it has been made to be as wholesome as possible. It has 18 essential nutrients and the probiotic Bifidus BL, which supports the baby’s natural defenses by boosting immunity. It also has protein, Omega-3 (EPA & DHA) and omega-6, vitamins A and E, folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12, among others

With these prime benefits, Cerelac has made its place in the baby’s meal platter for years. But is Cerelac so perfect that we may depend on it right away? Well, everything has its pros and cons, and so does Cerelac.

Drawbacks Of Cerelac

Cerelac has a rich nutritional profile, but still comes with a few drawbacks.

  1. It has fruit juice concentrate that may not be a healthy addition to infant food. Fruit juice concentrates are made by minimizing the quantity of water in fruit juice, thus concentrating the juice. This process may lead to the loss of water-soluble vitamins and minerals. Hence, adding fresh fruits is a better option (6).
  2. Kids who are offered only cerelac and not homemade food, might develop aversions for home food. 
  3. Gluten and lactose in Cerelac can be missed and may lead to allergic reactions.

Related: 5 Types Of Skin Allergies In Babies, Treatment & Prevention

The variants available for babies of eight months and above contain glucose syrup and maltodextrin, which are a form of sugar. This addition has no significant value since the baby already gets adequate sugar from other ingredients in Cerelac. The inclusion of glucose syrup and maltodextrin could lead to an increased sugar intake. The high sugar intake by infants may lead to health issues such as childhood obesity, and tooth decay (7) (8).

How To Feed Cerelac For The First Time?

Feeding your baby something other than breastmilk (or formula) for the first time can be an overwhelming experience, especially for first-time parents. These tips and tricks could be handy (9).

  • Never start feeding at a time when your baby is tired or cranky.
  • Be calm and relaxed. Your baby should be comfortable when you feed.
  • Make the feeding environment warm, friendly, and flexible because setting any feeding rules so early is of no use.
  • Ensure that the infant is sitting comfortably in an upright position with little or no support.
  • Make sure your baby is not too hungry when you start feeding.
  • Be patient. Your baby may take only a spoonful at first, but this will increase with time and practice.
  • Be prepared for a mess; all babies will do it until they learn the art of eating.

    Image: Shutterstock

  • Stay alert while you feed your baby to avoid accidents such as choking.
  • Introduce one new food at a time. Keep a 3-5 day gap before you start any new food.
  • Feed foods with a small spoon. You may buy an infant-sized spoon for the purpose.
  • Place the spoon near your baby’s lips.
  • If your baby refuses the first time, try again the next day.

Related: 11 Reasons Why Baby Refuses To Eat And How To Help Them

How To Prepare Cerelac For Babies?

Image: Shutterstock

Carefully read the instructions given on the packet. The quantity of Cerelac could change depending on the variant.

Here are the general instructions for preparing Cerelac:

  1. Wash your hands before preparing the baby food. Ensure that the utensils are thoroughly cleaned and preferably sanitized.
  1. Boil clean drinking water for five minutes and then let it come to room temperature before you start preparing the feed.
  1. Measure the amount of water and Cerelac as directed on the pack. Always use the scoop provided in the box. Level the scoop to ensure the amount is as exact as mentioned on the box.
  1. Do not use more powder than directed.
  1. Add water while stirring continuously. Mix well and ensure no lumps are formed.
  1. Feed immediately or within 30 minutes; otherwise, there could be bacterial deterioration. Discard the unused feed.

If you do not want to use any packaged infant food, then you may try making it at home.

Is Homemade Cereal Food Better Than Cerelac?

Homemade cereal food is a combination of cereals/grains with pulses. Its nutritional profile makes it suitable for babies and adults as well. Below are some of the pros and cons the homemade powder vis-à-vis Cerelac.

  • The combination of ingredients is customizable. This is important, especially if there are any complaints of food allergy or food intolerance in the baby. You can have fewer grains when it is being made for a four-month-old than when made for an eight-month-old baby.
  • You can have a wide assortment of grains and pulses so that the baby gets all the essential macro and micronutrients.
  • You may add sprouted grains and pulses to increase the overall nutritional profile of the feed. Sprouting boosts the bioavailability of nutrients to the baby (10) (11).
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables may be added as per the recipe. It can be a healthier alternative to the fruit and vegetable juice concentrate found in Cerelac.

Related: 16 Best Vegetables For Babies From Infancy To One Year

  • However, preparing the powder is time consuming, especially if you are in a rush.
  • It needs to be prepared and stored in a clean, preferably sanitized, environment in the kitchen. If not, it could pose a risk of germs and infection to your baby.
  • You may not know the values of each nutrient that you are feeding the baby.

To minimize the risk of allergies or intolerances, introduce only 1-2 teaspoons of homemade ‘Cerelac’ to the baby. Wait and check for any allergic reactions. If you see any allergic reactions, then stop feeding it.

Keep reading to learn how you can prepare homemade cereal powder for your little one.

How To Make Cereal Powder at Home?

We provide two versions of the recipe, one for babies who are four months old but prepared for solids. Another recipe is for babies who are six months old and can be fed solids. These are the traditional recipes used in various Asian cultures.

1. Homemade ‘Cerelac’ (4-6 months)

Image: Shutterstock

You may begin with a single-grain version. Rice is an ideal first food since it is hypoallergenic and easy to digest. The grain is widely recommended by pediatricians (12).

You will need:

1 cup organic rice

How to prepare:
  1. Take a cup of rice and wash it thoroughly.
  1. Drain the water and spread the rice on a clean cotton or muslin cloth. Let it dry for an hour or so.
  1. Once the rice gets dried well, start with roasting.
  1. For roasting, put a small pan on medium heat. Once the pan is heated, dry-roast the rice in it on a medium flame for 5-7 minutes. Keep stirring the rice.
  1. The rice gives out an aroma, starts fluttering and turns into light brown. As this happens, turn off the heat and let the rice cool.
  1. Once the rice cools down, transfer it to a clean grinder. Grind the rice for two minutes or for the desired time to turn it into a fine powder.
  1. Sift the powder to remove any coarse rice granules.
  1. Store the sifted powder in an air-tight container and place in the refrigerator to store.
  1. To feed the baby, take one tablespoon of rice powder, and mix it with half a cup of water. Stir continuously to prevent the formation of lumps.
  1. Transfer this mix to a pan. Keep the pan on the flame at medium heat. Stir the mixture continuously till it starts simmering. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  1. Let the mix cool down a bit to become lukewarm. Transfer it to a serving dish and feed it to your baby.

NOTE: Mix it with some milk or formula for added taste. Adjust the consistency by adding water or milk. Once your baby is comfortable with this, you can start adding fruit and vegetable purees to this recipe.

It is only when the baby is comfortable with single-grain recipes, introduce multi-ingredient recipes. One such multi-ingredient recipe is shared below.

2.

Homemade ‘Cerelac’ recipe (6 months and above)

Image: Shutterstock

This recipe is nutritionally-balanced and has all the basic ingredients that could be found in your kitchen shelf.

You will need:

Cereals

  • 1.5 cup white/brown rice
  • 1 cup broken wheat
  • 1/2 cup sago
  • 1/2 cup corn

Grains

  • 1 cup finger millet flour (ragi)

Pulses/ legumes

  • 1 cup roasted whole green gram
  • 1 cup roasted gram
  • 1 cup split red gram
  • 1 cup split yellow dal
  • 1/2 cup horse gram

Nuts and condiments

  • 1/2 cup almonds
  • 1/2 cup cashew
  • 10 pods cardamom
How to prepare:
  1. Once the ingredients are all sorted, soak them separately in water for about 10 minutes.
  1. Rinse and dry the ingredients on plain cotton or muslin cloth.
  1. Once they completely dry, dry-roast all the ingredients until they turn light brown and start giving a distinct aroma. Points to remember while roasting:
    • Roast rice until it gets little puffed and slightly golden.
    • Pulses until they get golden in color and crisp in texture.
    • Corn should start fluttering.
    • Sago should get dry and crisp.
    • Broken wheat until it turns light golden.
    • Ragi until it gives a distinct aroma.
    • Almond and cashews until they are golden brown and cardamon until it gives aroma.
  1. Let all the roasted ingredients cool down. Then, put them in a blender and make a fine powder. Make sure that there are no granules or fine pieces of grains/ pulses left.
  1. Sift the powder in case you feel that granules or fine grain pieces could be there in the powder.
  1. Store the powder in an air-tight container. It can be kept for 4-6 months in a refrigerator.
  1. Now, whenever you have to make the porridge, follow these steps:
    • Take 2 tablespoons of the homemade Cerelac powder in a clean, sanitized bowl. Make sure that the bowl is dry.
    • Add one cup of boiled and cooled water to the powder.
    • Mix the powder and water well so that no lumps are formed.
    • Transfer this mixture to a pan and keep the pan on a flame of medium heat.
    • The mixture will take approximately ten minutes to turn into a thick texture.
    • Switch off the flame and let the mixture cool.
    • Once the mixture comes to room temperature, feed it to your baby with added fruit or vegetable puree.
    • You can add more water to the mix if it becomes too thick. Add more powder if the preparation becomes runny. However, do it while you are still cooking the mixture.

Note: It is always advisable to use the powder as early as possible.

1. How many times a day can Cerelac be given?

The number of times Cerelac may be given to babies depends on their age. Starting at six months, you may give Cerelac twice a day and then gradually increase it.

2. Can I give Cerelac to babies at night?

Yes, Cerelac may be given to babies at night for a wholesome meal that will keep them satisfied for a couple of hours. However, avoid overfeeding them at night to ensure they sleep comfortably.

Most parents have used Cerelac baby food around the world for a long time. The variety and ease of use make this instant food a popular choice among foods for babies. In addition, it is available in stages designed as per a baby’s age ranging from six to twenty-four months. Although Cerelac is packed with several vital nutrients and probiotics for infants, it comes with certain disadvantages and risks of allergies. Therefore, it is best to consult your baby’s pediatrician before introducing Cerelac to your baby.

References:

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

  1. American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations for Complementary Feeding; American Academy of Pediatrics
    https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/106/supplement_4/1274.1
  2. Developmental Stages In Infant And Toddler Feeding; Infant toddler forum.
    https://infantandtoddlerforum.org/media/upload/pdf-downloads/3.5_Developmental_Stages_in_Infant_and_Toddler_Feeding_NEW.pdf
  3. When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods; U.S. Food and Drug Administration
    https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods. html
  4. Weaning of infants; BMJ
    https://adc.bmj.com/content/88/6/488
  5.  A.A. Kuo et al., Introduction of Solid Food to Young Infants; National Center for Biotechnology Information
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3195680/
  6. Where We Stand: Fruit Juice; American Academy of Pediatrics
    https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/Where-We-Stand-Fruit-Juice.aspx
  7. Policy on Dietary Recommendations for Infants, Children, and Adolescents; AAPD
    https://www.aapd.org/media/policies_guidelines/p_recdietary.pdf
  8. How to Reduce Added Sugar in Your Child’s Diet: AAP Tips; American Academy of Pediatrics
    https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/nutrition/Pages/How-to-Reduce-Added-Sugar-in-Your-Childs-Diet.aspx
  9. Eating tips for babies; State Government of Victoria, Australia
    https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov. au/health/healthyliving/eating-tips-for-babies
  10. Chavan JK and Kadam SS, Nutritional improvement of cereals by sprouting; National Center for Biotechnology Information
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2692609
  11. R.S. Gibson et al., Improving the bioavailability of nutrients in plant foods at the household level, Cambridge University
    https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-nutrition-society/article/improving-the-bioavailability-of-nutrients-in-plant-foods-at-the-household-level/D1CC8CA0E2F3990871A5C7912619B8D7
  12. Starting Solid Foods; American Academy of Pediatrics
    https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Starting-Solid-Foods.aspx

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Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with over eight years of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children. Then she worked as a nutrition faculty and clinical nutrition coach in different...
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Dr. Charu Kalra has over 12 years of experience as a pediatrician, having worked in both government and private establishments in Delhi. Her areas of interest include new-born critical care, sick patient management, allergy, and asthma. She also offers services as a pediatric nutritionist and a lactation consultant. Holding a certification in lactation, Dr. Kalra provides counselling to new parents...
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Infant formula | Nestlé Global

Breast milk is the ideal nutrition to ensure babies get the best possible start in life. It provides infants with the right nutrients, builds tolerance and offers protection, while, for mothers, it fosters bonding and stimulates the production of important hormones.

Unfortunately, not all mothers can breastfeed: there are a few medical conditions that aren’t compatible with breastfeeding. Also, situations such as inflexible work schedules or working away from home may prevent a mother to breastfeed her baby. They simply are not in a conducive environment to breastfeeding.

Studies have shown that non-breastfed babies are often given alternatives which don’t offer the nutrition they need. So it is critical that, when infants are not breastfed, they receive the highest quality, scientifically proven alternatives to breast milk with the appropriate guidance of their healthcare professionals. For us, the number one priority is to ensure that all children get the best possible nutrition.

 

We first developed infant formula 150 years ago to meet the urgent need for a safe alternative to breast milk. Since then, we have continuously improved our products to create the best possible breast-milk substitutes, always holding ourselves to the highest safety and quality standards.

Nestlé offers high-quality, nutritionally balanced and science-based products to mothers and babies in the first 1000 days of life, which are setting the foundations for lifelong health. We value the trust our consumers place in us, and it is our responsibility to respect this trust by acting in their best interests at all times.

That is why we are committed not to interfere with mothers’ desire to breastfeed and to protect them from inappropriate marketing practices by actively supporting breastfeeding. We do so by making it easy for our employees to breastfeed, allowing up to 14 weeks’ maternity leave or implementing breastfeeding rooms in our facilities and public places.

Download our Materiality Protection Policy (pdf, 1Mb)

We’ve also implemented industry-leading Policy and Procedures (pdf, 5Mb), derived from the WHO Code of the Marketing of the Breast-milk Substitutes, that reflect Nestlé’s strong compliance culture.

 

At Nestlé, the health and safety of babies is our priority, and we are committed to using only the highest quality ingredients and applying the strictest safety standards for our products, even when these extend beyond the requirements of local legislation.

We design our products to suit every stage of a baby’s healthy growth and development, and we only use raw materials that are traceable to source. All our products comply with our own strict specifications, as well as international and local quality and safety standards. The materials we use are grown by experienced farmers, who have been specifically selected, trained to apply good agricultural practices, and are regularly audited to ensure they conform.

We perform quality checks on our ingredients and finished products up to 200 times throughout the production process, using state-of the-art laboratories, in line with our mission to nurture a healthier generation through safe, nutritious and high-quality products.

Download our Quality & Safety Infographic (pdf, 250Kb)

Why is Nestlé baby food not finding adequate demand?

According to Euromonitor, in 2018, the largest growth in sales in the infant formula segment came from specially formulated foods for babies who have just transitioned from breastfeeding to formula. 123rf.com

Swiss food giant Nestlé is trying to diversify its baby food range and bring innovative products to market. The prospects here are promising. However, many critics are skeptical. And they have a reason to.

This content was published on January 10, 2020 - 11:00

Jessica Davis Pluss (Jessica Davis Pluss)

In the first weeks of life, baby Lindsay Beeson developed a rash, traces of blood on diapers, diarrhea and vomiting. Doctors diagnosed an allergy to cow's milk. Like many other mothers in her situation, Lindsey eliminated milk from her baby's diet and, in addition to breastfeeding, began to gradually introduce complementary foods with hypoallergenic infant formula. In the second year of his life, her son was switched to milk formulas specially designed for babies with allergies. “I knew that they contained a balance of proteins, fats and vitamins similar to the composition of cow's milk. And my son liked the taste,” she said in an interview with swissinfo.ch.

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For global food concerns such as Nestlé, the development and launch of new formulas for infants up to one year of age, including those suffering from allergic reactions, requiring special dietary nutrition or simply picky eaters, is another and very important abroad in expanding the range of baby food.

Speaking to a group of journalists in Lausanne, Thierry Philardeau, Nestlé's Senior Vice President of Strategic Dairy Business Development, recently stated: all babies and their mothers." From a practical point of view, the concern's strategy is to fill the gaps that arise in the nutrition of mothers and their children, regardless of whether the children receive artificial feeding, natural breastfeeding or combination.

The Swiss concern continues to focus on the nutrition of premature babies and children with special medical conditions. And yet, in recent years, he has consistently increased investment in research and development in order to obtain new products for the nutrition of children after the age of six months of life, that is, for a particularly difficult period when breast milk alone is no longer enough to meet the nutritional needs of a child. , and a complete transition to artificial food has not yet taken place.

Artificial demand or valuable nutritional supplement?

Nestlé baby food has a direct impact on the health of millions of children around the world. More than 150 years have passed since Henri Nestlé (1814-1890) invented Farine Lactée, a baby porridge to support malnourished children. Today, Nestlé is the world's largest infant formula company. It has a fifth market share, followed by Danone in second place.

In recent years there has been a real boom in breastfeeding around the world. The profits of infant formula companies have fallen. Therefore, today these companies rely on "older babies" and on related products. According to EuromonitorExternal link , in 2018, the largest growth in sales in the infant formula segment was provided by specially formulated nutrition for children who have just switched from breastfeeding to artificial food.

External content

Today in supermarkets in almost every country in the world you can find the widest range of types of milk powder, dairy product concentrates and breast milk substitutes for children under one year old. It would seem great, but not everyone is satisfied with these products. Activists such as Patti Rundall are sounding the alarm. Since the 1980s, she has served as Director of Strategic Policy for Baby Milk ActionExternal Link , an international network of baby food organizations. Since her filing, the world has experienced a number of very large litigations in connection with the production and sale of artificial nutrition from Nestlé Corporation.

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What's the problem? It turns out that, according to her, the Nestlé and Danone concerns are the main initiators of the promotion of baby food for babies and milk formulas for children aged from 6 months to 3 years and further up to the age of nine. They use the same or very similar symbols (logos) as on infant formula, so parents, when they see the brand name, believe that they have a whole product line in front of them. However, new formulas for infant formula are just a marketing ploy.

“There is nothing new in them, so all milk formulas, starting with formulas “6 months+”, as well as formulas for children from 1 year to 3 years and older, are simply not needed, they are just a way to get more money out of parents’ pockets ”, P. Randall told swissinfo.ch. “This product should be removed from the market. But the market has become so huge that no one wants to do it, although everyone knows that they are dealing with violations of the provisions of the WHO Guidelines to stop inappropriate forms of promotion of foods for infants and young children.

More precisely, we are talking about the International Code on the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, adopted by WHO in 1981. This document sets standards for ethically responsible marketing, including restrictions on advertising, sponsorship, and giving away free samples of infant formula. The default document proceeds from the fact that, anyway, only breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition for a healthy baby up to six months, which, in fact, Danone, Nestlé and their opponents agree with.

Pressure from the baby food industry

Controversy arises at the gray zone stage, when complementary foods with other foods and drinks can be introduced at about six months of age and older. You can enter, but is it necessary? And this is where the problem lies. Don't concerns create artificial demand, beneficial primarily to themselves? It is really difficult to understand this, the information received by parents from baby food manufacturers, doctors and staunch opponents of factory baby food is often contradictory.

Some scientific studies state that so-called “Third level milk formulas” for children aged one to three years are not needed, but they can help compensate for nutritional deficiencies, especially in cases of malnutrition or lack of certain nutrients substances in local foods”. So what's wrong with giving kids a better chance at delicious and most importantly healthy food?

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Criticism of Nestlé has a long history. About forty years ago, breastfeeding activists first vociferously accused Nestlé of using an aggressive marketing strategy that resulted in mothers declining to breastfeed in favor of infant formula. The ensuing widespread boycott of Nestlé products led to major changes in the formation of marketing strategies.

However, Catherine Watt of the Geneva group La Leche LeagueExternal link , an international public private secular organization to support breastfeeding mothers, says that many women today stop breastfeeding earlier than they should. Why? “This is happening as a result of veiled pressure from the baby food industry, which has an arsenal of advertising in favor of various types of complementary foods and infant formula,” she said. “If there are doubts about whether the baby has enough breast milk, and there is some kind of milk formula in the closet, you just try to use it. And now you are already “under the hood” of the industry.”

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In developing countries, the consequences of such a move can be most dramatic. CTO of the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India BPNIExternal link JP Dadhich is particularly concerned about the high cost of these products, their negative environmental impact and potential risks of infection.

“We can't be sure about the quality of the water that these formulas are based on, which increases the risk of diarrhea. And this is in conditions when there is now enough milk of animal origin in India. After boiling, it is completely safe, in addition, it is quite acceptable here, taking into account the cultural traditions of the country. For children, it is better to use complementary foods from quality local products, continuing to breastfeed the child after 6 months.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also concerned that infant formula designed specifically for babies after one year of age can shorten the duration of breastfeeding by depriving the baby of important nutrients, especially if the products are similarly labeled and promoted as more healthy alternative to breastfeeding due to the increased content of vitamins and minerals.

The devil is in the details

All this has caused and continues to cause heated debate between governments and food company lobbyists. “One of the challenges with regard to 'level 2' formula (after 6 months) is the need to understand whether foods for children aged 1 to 3 years should be considered specifically as 'substitutes' for breast milk, and if not, what should they be called.” Tom Heilandt of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international food standards group, tells us this.

Some governments would like to ban these formulas so as not to completely "kill" the motivation to breastfeed, while other countries want to leave the choice to consumers. India is a country with some of the most stringent regulations. Here, any products intended specifically for children under the age of two years are categorized as breast milk substitutes and thus fall under the international “Code of Regulations” of WHO. Group NestléExternal link says it has gone further than many other players in the industry by operating under European Union rules coming into effect in 2020.

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At the same time, Nestlé opposes any additional regulation, arguing, based on studies already conducted in many countries, that any artificial nutrition alternative will still be less healthy than any mixture. “There is no point in restricting nutrition advertising for children under the age of one, especially when there are almost no restrictions on advertising Coca-Cola and other fast food anywhere,” says T. Filardo.

Always guilty?

Nestlé recognizes that it needs to proceed with caution given its history of high-profile scandals. “It’s not for you to sell chocolate, we have a huge responsibility. Every year we produce formula for 15 million children, which is equal to the population of the Netherlands,” says T. Filardo. At the same time, the company has already updated its marketing policy several times by creating a system for reporting violations and annually providing reports on compliance with its obligations.

Unlike the pre-1980s era, the company is very clear that "breastfeeding is the best feeding option." At the same time, she wants her food products for children to be almost in no way inferior in quality to breast milk. Critics say it's not enough to be "the lesser of the evils." However, Nestlé argues that if the company is forced out of the baby food market, companies with more than a dubious reputation will take its place. This is especially true in countries with weak regulatory environments such as China, Russia, and the United States.

According to WHO, 58 countries around the world still do not have laws restricting the marketing of infant formula for children under one year of age. “I want to complete the story of Nestlé as a company that allegedly kills children,” says T. Filardo. “Let's move on without forgetting the past. We have drawn conclusions, we have changed. I want to look to the future, I don’t want to bear the stigma of the eternal guilty anymore, especially since someone, and our company, has done more in this area than many other companies. ”

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Dairy-free porridge 5 cereals (from 6 months old) Nestle 200 g 42009

Dairy-free multi-cereal porridge 5 cereals for feeding children over 6 months old in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation. IMPORTANT NOTE: The ideal food for an infant is mother's milk. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and subsequent introduction of complementary foods if breastfeeding continues. Nestlé supports this recommendation. To decide on the timing and method of introducing this product into the diet of a child, a specialist consultation is necessary. The porridge is prepared using a special technology of gentle splitting of cereals CHE. Thanks to this, a natural sweet taste appears in the product, porridge is better absorbed and has an increased nutritional value. It is a useful balanced food for healthy children. The porridge is enriched with probiotics - live bifidobacteria BL. They contribute to the normalization of digestion, the growth of healthy microflora and the strengthening of immunity, which is very important during the introduction of complementary foods. Porridge contains a complex of vitamins and minerals iRON + for healthy growth and development. If you are lactose and/or cow's milk protein intolerant, porridge must be diluted with either water or the formula you use to feed your baby. Attention! When diluted with water, porridge does not provide the necessary nutritional value of the diet. Consult your doctor for dietary modifications. Ingredients: flour (91.6% (wheat (78%) (contains gluten), buckwheat (4.1%), rice (4.1%), corn (2.7%), oats (2.7%) (contains gluten )), maltodextrin, minerals (calcium carbonate, iron (II) fumarate, zinc sulfate, potassium iodide), vitamins (C (L-ascorbic acid), E (DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate), PP (nicotinamide), A (retinol acetate), B1 (thiamine mononitrate), B6 ​​(pyridoxine hydrochloride), B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folic acid), D (D3 cholecalciferol)), bifidobacteria not less than 1x106 CFU/g. The product may contain milk. The product is packaged under modified atmosphere with nitrogen. Storage conditions: unopened package should be stored in a dry place at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C and relative humidity not exceeding 75%. After preparing the porridge, the opened package should be tightly closed. After opening the package, the product should be stored for no more than 2 weeks. Shelf life: 15 months. Date of manufacture and packaging, expiration date and batch number are indicated on the bottom panel of the box. Don't cook! Porridge should be cooked immediately before each feeding. Follow the instructions on the package. Do not store diluted porridge left after feeding. Start introducing complementary foods with 1 tablespoon of porridge diluted with 4-5 tablespoons of breast milk, water, or infant formula that the baby is on. Gradually increase the amount of porridge to one whole serving.

Composition:

Flour (91. 6 CFU/g. The product may contain milk. The product is packaged under modified atmosphere with nitrogen.

Precautions:

Do not boil! Feed your baby with a clean spoon. Porridge should be cooked before each feeding. Do not store diluted porridge left after feeding.

Directions for use:

Wash your hands and take clean utensils. Pour 160 ml of 37°C breast milk, 40°C infant formula or water into a clean bowl. If you are using infant formula, carefully prepare the formula according to the instructions on the formula package. If you are using drinking water to make porridge, boil it for 5 minutes and let it cool to the desired temperature. Measure 25 grams of dry porridge (5 tablespoons) into a separate bowl. Gradually add dry porridge to a plate of water, breast milk or infant formula, stirring continuously until smooth. Start introducing complementary foods with 1 tablespoon of porridge diluted with 4-5 tablespoons of boiled water.

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