Ahead of CCNFSDU45 in Nuremberg, IBFAN calls for a standard that protects continued breastfeeding, healthy culturally appropriate family foods and responsive feeding from the inappropriate promotion of commercial products.
IBFAN has submitted its comments on the proposed draft Codex standard for foods for older infants and young children. The proposal was circulated under CL 2026/47-NFSDU for comments at Step 4, with a deadline of 1 October 2026.
The proposed standard will be discussed during a Physical Working Group on 1 November and at the 45th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses – CCNFSDU45, taking place in Nuremberg, Germany, from 2–6 November 2026.
The Physical Working Group and the plenary sessions will be webcast in English, French, Spanish and German.
IBFAN challenges the premise that there is a widespread need for commercial products specifically designed for older infants and young children as a main source of complementary food.
Confidence in biodiverse, minimally processed and healthier home-prepared family foods can be undermined when commercial products — many of which are ultra-processed, sweetened or nutritionally inferior — are promoted as necessary or uniquely beneficial for child health and development.
Commercial complementary foods should, at most, be considered optional convenience foods for limited situations. They must not replace breastfeeding or nutritious, culturally appropriate and locally available family foods.
The new standard must be consistent with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions and the WHO Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6–23 months of age.
WHO recommends that:
- breastfeeding should continue for up to two years or beyond;
- complementary foods should not be introduced before six months of age;
- infants and young children should consume a diverse diet;
- foods high in sugar, salt and trans fats should not be consumed; and
- children should be responsively fed in ways that encourage autonomy, self-regulation and healthy cognitive, emotional and social development.
- strong safeguards for continued breastfeeding to two years and beyond;
- a clear statement that commercial foods for older infants and young children must not replace healthy family foods;
- full alignment with the International Code and relevant World Health Assembly resolutions;
- no labelling or marketing that suggests complementary foods should be introduced before six months;
- strict controls on added sugars, sugar-contributing ingredients, sweeteners, salt, trans fats and artificial flavourings;
- protection against misleading health, nutrition and idealising claims;
- clear labelling and marketing controls distinguishing ordinary commercial foods from Foods for Special Medical Purposes and Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods;
- safeguards against unnecessary or inadequately tested optional ingredients;
- effective controls on chemical and microbial contaminants, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals and harmful processing practices;
- packaging requirements that protect children’s health and the environment; and
- measures to prevent commercial products from undermining responsive feeding, chewing, oral development and children’s ability to recognise hunger and fullness.
IBFAN is particularly concerned about the growing promotion of puréed foods in pouches. These products may encourage children to suck food while reclining instead of sitting, chewing and learning to eat foods with a variety of textures, colours, aromas and tastes.
The complementary feeding period is a critical learning stage during which children develop food preferences and eating patterns that may continue throughout life.
The development of the new standard must be transparent and protected from commercial influence.
Standards intended to protect infants and young children should be based on independent evidence and public health recommendations, not on the commercial objective of expanding global markets for packaged and ultra-processed foods.
IBFAN also opposes the use of the term “weaning period”. The term may incorrectly suggest that breastfeeding should stop when complementary foods are introduced. Complementary feeding should take place alongside continued breastfeeding.
The proposed standard must protect parents and caregivers from marketing that presents commercial products as necessary, healthier or superior to affordable and culturally appropriate family foods.
IBFAN encourages its members and public health advocates to contact their national CCNFSDU delegations and Ministers of Health.
Governments should support provisions that:
- protect exclusive and continued breastfeeding;
- promote healthy, biodiverse and culturally appropriate family foods;
- prohibit inappropriate marketing of commercial foods for infants and young children; and
- ensure that Codex standards fully reflect WHO recommendations and public health priorities.
In Complementary Feeding: Nutrition, Culture and Politics, IBFAN co-founder Gabrielle Palmer examines how culture, inequality, government policy and commercial interests influence the first foods given to children.
The book explores the importance of local foods, family diets and food security while examining how aggressive marketing can create demand for unnecessary or unsuitable commercial baby foods.
Find out more from the publisher
Kindle edition on Amazon UK
