If you google food additives, a plethora of fear inducing and confusing information can come up leaving you feeling overwhelmed and worried. But fear not, Mama! Let's separate the facts from fiction and empower you to make informed choices about your baby’s diet.
Australia's Strict Food Rules and Regulations
In Australia, the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) plays a crucial role in ensuring food safety. They act as your watchdog, rigorously testing and evaluating all food additives, including preservatives, colours, and sweeteners, before they're approved for use. This process ensures that permitted levels are safe for consumption, including for our most vulnerable population – our babies!
While FSANZ regulations provide strong safety assurances, there are some specific additives we may need to limit or avoid in babies. It's important to remember that our babies teeny bodies are still developing so we want to ensure we are giving them things that they can use to grow and thrive as well as tolerate.
Food Colours
Food colours, often identified by numbers in the 100 range (e.g., 102 for Tartrazine), add a vibrant touch to food but offer no nutritional value. While generally safe within permitted levels, some studies have suggested potential links between certain food colours and behavioural issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
The Recommendation:
While FSANZ doesn't recommend complete avoidance, limiting food colours in your bubs diet might be a good approach. Opt for natural alternatives like turmeric for yellow, beetroot powder for pink, acai powder for purple, green spirulina and blue spirulina for blue.
Preservatives
Preservatives, with numbers typically in the 200 range, help prevent spoilage and extend shelf life. Here's a closer look at two commonly encountered preservatives to keep an eye on:
Nitrates and Nitrites (250-252):
These are found in processed meats like bacon, ham, salami, and sausages. While FSANZ deems permitted levels safe, some research suggests a potential link between high consumption of nitrates and nitrites and cancer risk.
Recommendation:
Limit processed meats in your child's diet. Offer them occasionally, not as a daily staple. Instead, focus on fresh meats, poultry, and fish for a protein punch.
Sulphites (220-228):
These preservatives can be found in dried fruits, some wines, and certain packaged foods. A small percentage of the population, particularly asthmatics, might experience sensitivity to sulphites. However, the levels permitted in Australia are generally considered safe for most individuals.
Recommendation:
While generally safe, discuss any concerns about sulphites with your GP. If you're trying to avoid them, check food labels carefully, as their presence must be declared.
Artificial Sweeteners
Sweeteners, often with numbers in the 950’s and 960’s range, can be a double-edged sword. While they add sweetness without adding calories, they offer little to no nutritional value. Artificial sweeteners are particularly concerning for babies and toddlers.
Here's why:
- Nutrient Deficit: Artificially sweetened food generally lacks the essential nutrients that babies and toddlers need for healthy growth and development.
- Taste Preference: The intense sweetness of artificial sweeteners can influence their future taste preferences, potentially leading them towards a desire for overly sweet foods later in life.
- Tummy Troubles: Some babies might have sensitive digestive systems, and artificial sweeteners can disrupt their gut health and cause discomfort.
FSANZ Recommendation:
Avoid artificial sweeteners in your baby and toddler's diet. Opt for natural sweetness from fruits (in appropriate textures when they start solids) to introduce them to healthy flavours and provide essential vitamins and minerals.
Labels: Your Key to Informed Choices
Understanding food labels empowers you to make informed choices about what goes on your child's plate. In Australia, food labelling is strictly regulated. This means any additive used in the food must be declared on the label. Look for the ingredient list, typically found near the bottom of the package. Additives are usually identified by their names (e.g., "ascorbic acid" for Vitamin C) or their additive codes (e.g., "300" for Vitamin C).
Mamma, Please Don’t Stress!
The Bottom Line on Food Additives: While limiting food colours, artificial sweeteners, and nitrites in your child's diet might be ideal, there's no need to obsess over every label. FSANZ ensures most additives are safe at permitted levels. The choice is ultimately yours! If you prioritise a diet free of additives for your little ones, that's so fine. But if occasional processed foods fit your family's lifestyle, there's no harm in moderation.
Nourishing Bubs: Your Partner in Raising Healthy Eaters
At Nourishing Bubs, we go beyond convenient and nutritious baby food. We're your one-stop shop for raising healthy eaters! Explore our library of informative articles and delicious recipes, designed to guide you through every stage of your child's development, from starting solids to introducing allergens and fostering healthy eating habits. Plus, discover our convenient and nutritious product range: frozen baby purees for effortless mealtimes, allergen packs for safe exploration of common allergens, and delicious toddler finger foods that encourage self-feeding and a love for healthy choices.
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