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International Baby Food Action Network – IBFAN
CCNFSDU45: IBFAN calls for safeguards in draft standard on foods for older infants and young children
CCNFSDU45 – At the 45th Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses in Nuremberg, the Committee will consider a proposed standard for foods for older infants and young children. IBFAN’s published comments call for continued breastfeeding, healthy family foods and protection from inappropriate commercial promotion.
2-6 November 2026 – Nuremberg, Germany.
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CCNFSDU45 - Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
The 45th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU45) is being held in Nuremberg, Germany, from 2 to 6 November 2026.
A Physical Working Group on the draft standard for foods for older infants and young children is scheduled for 1 November, from 10:00 to 13:00 CET. A second Physical Working Group, on proposals for new work and emerging issues, is scheduled for 14:30 to 18:00 CET.
Plenary sessions will take place from 2 to 4 November. Adoption of the report is scheduled for 6 November.
Commercial products must not replace healthy family foods
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.
Key safeguards requested by IBFAN
- 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.
Specific proposals in IBFAN’s Step 4 comments
IBFAN’s written comments propose amendments to the scope, description and structure of the draft standard. They propose stating that foods manufactured according to the standard are not necessary and that they are optional “convenience” foods for limited situations. IBFAN states that these products should not be categorised as products to address specific nutrient gaps, and should not replace family foods or continued breastfeeding.
IBFAN supports a two-part structure for the standard: Part A for foods for older infants and young children, and Part B for cereal-based foods. It recommends that product composition include all food groups recommended by WHO: animal-source protein, fruits and vegetables, pulses, nuts and seeds, and limited starchy staples.
IBFAN states that added sugars, sugar-contributing ingredients and sweeteners should not be permitted in complementary foods for infants and young children. Artificial flavourings and “optional ingredients” should not be permitted. IBFAN also proposes a provision for safe packaging that disallows pouch products. The comments state that these products harm oral development, increase dental caries, obesity and the intake of microplastic contaminants, and discourage self-regulated feeding.
Protecting health from commercial influence
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 calls for action
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.
CCNFSDU45
Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses
For more information, visit the official website at CCNFSDU45
Source: FAO, accessed on 01.11.2026
