Legislation of food for weaning

Foods based on cereals and other foods intended for infants.

For this product category the law establishes that:

the quantity of cereals cannot be less than 25% of the final dry weight;
the pesticide content must be less than 0.01 mg / kg;
in agricultural products intended for early infancy the use of pesticides that have an assimilable daily intake of (ADI) greater than 5 µg / kg of body weight is prohibited;
GMO content is tolerated up to one part per million (1 PPM);
it is not possible to add salt, except as sodium salts with a technological function. The content must be less than 100mg / 100Kcal (the non-use of sodium has a dual purpose, on the one hand it avoids burdening the child's kidney function and on the other hand negatively influences the child's future eating habits).

The label must indicate:

the age from which the product can be destined (in no case less than 4 months);
the absence or presence of gluten if the product is intended for children under 6 months of age;
the energy value, the protein, fat and carbohydrate content;
the average content of each vitamin and each mineral salt;
where necessary instructions for appropriate preparation.

This information is very important because, while the choice of milks is entrusted to the pediatrician, the weaning products are of free choice (the pediatrician gives indications, but hardly recommends the precise brand to use).

The Ministry of Health has imposed a very restrictive maximum level of mycotoxins:

ochratoxin A: 0.5 µg / kg;
sum of the aflatoxins of series A and B: 0.1 µg / kg;
aflatoxin M1: 0.01 µg / kg;
zearalenone: 20 µg / kg;

Since the dangerousness of mycotoxins is a function of body weight, the same quantity is much more dangerous for the child than for the adult.

Meat foods for infants

if the only ingredient is meat: the meat must be at least 40% of the final weight and the proteins from this source must be at least 7g / 100Kcal;
products with meat as the first ingredient: the meat must be at least 10% of the final weight and the proteins from this source must be at least 4g / 100Kcal;
products with meat in a different position from the first ingredient: the meat must be at least 8% of the final weight and the proteins from this source must be at least 2.2g / 100 Kcal.

In all meat-based products, the following indications must also be observed:

the final fat content should not exceed 6g / 100 Kcal;
the sodium content must not exceed 200mg / 100Kcal, except in the case of cheese where this value can rise to 300mg / 100Kcal;
sodium salts can be added for technological purposes only (additives).

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