Children's food must be safe Nutrition representative recommends legislation on labelling of food for minors

Children's dumplings, children's yogurt, children's noodles.

"Since the label of 'children' is attached, there should be some differences, such as the advantages of less additives and more trace elements

Zhang Lei's attitude towards children's food is not uncommon among children's parents

However, these children's foods favored by parents are not necessarily safer and more nutritious

Many experts pointed out in interviews with reporters that the concept of "children's food" has not yet been clearly defined in China's current laws and regulations and national food safety standards, and children's food with labels such as "for children" currently on the market is more of a marketing campaign.

In this regard, Zhang Li, deputy to the National People's Congress and head of the Anhui Provincial Animal Husbandry Technology Promotion Station, suggested that legislation specifically for food packaging labels for minors should be strengthened, and the construction of special national standards and industry standards should be strengthened, so that consumers can clearly choose more suitable Food for children and adolescents can better escort the healthy growth of minors

Children's food lacks national standards

Children's soy sauce, children's milk, children's sausage.

After searching on multiple e-commerce platforms, it was found that almost all foods that are eaten daily will be labeled as "children", and some children's food sales are still very impressive

The reporter noticed that these children's foods have a relatively consistent style - in terms of packaging, bright cartoon patterns are often used; in terms of publicity, they claim to have "natural nutrition" and "unique formula" that are beneficial to children; in terms of price, they are posted on Foods labeled "Kids" are more expensive than those of the same brand

However, these children's foods, which are favored by many parents, do not have national standards

At present, there is no concept of "children's food" in the mandatory national standards, and China only has relevant food safety standards for infant formula and complementary foods from 0 to 36 months

In her research, Zhang Li found that there is no substantial difference between the food marketed as "special for children" and the same type of food, but the prices are generally higher, and some may even be suspected of false propaganda

Children's food may not be suitable for children

The "Healthy China 2030" Planning Outline clearly states that the health problems of key groups such as women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and low-income groups should be addressed

Promoting child health, food safety and nutrition is critical

However, due to the lack of clear legal regulations and national standards, many parents lack a correct understanding of children's food

Zhang Li pointed out that there are still some problems in the labeling of food packaging for minors.

These so-called "children's foods" sometimes endanger children's health
.

Bao Xiulan, chief physician of the Pediatrics Department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, pointed out that children's food may not be suitable for children, "such as children's cheese, most of which are processed cheese
.
Additional sugar, salt and other additives need to be added during the production process
.
Some children's steaks even contain anti- Formula fatty acids, long-term consumption, will damage the development of the child's nervous system, and even harm the cardiovascular system and the heart.

"

The relevant laws and regulations are not perfect

Some problems in children's food are also topics of concern to many delegates
.
During the National Two Sessions this year, many representatives and members pointed out in their suggestions that the imperfection of relevant laws and regulations is an important reason for the chaos in children's food
.

　　Gao Jie, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and deputy chief procurator of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Procuratorate, said that children and adolescents consume a lot of beverages, puffed foods, seasoned noodles and other foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt, which is an important cause of obesity in children and adolescents
.
It is an effective way to control children's consumption of "three high" foods by marking key information such as sugar, fat, and salt content on children's food packaging in a simple and eye-catching way
.

　　"However, there are no specific laws and regulations on the packaging and labeling of food for minors
.
Some of the existing provisions are scattered in the Food Safety Law, the Implementation Regulations of the Food Safety Law and other laws and regulations, and they are only for infant food packaging and labeling.
The relevant provisions of the newly revised Minor Protection Law are more principled and less operable
.
" Gao Jie said
.

　　Article 55 of the newly revised Law on the Protection of Minors stipulates that the production and sale of food, medicine, toys, utensils, game and entertainment equipment, and amusement facilities for minors shall conform to national or industry standards, and shall not endanger future generations.
The personal safety and physical and mental health of adults
.
The producers of the above-mentioned products shall mark the precautions in a prominent position, and those without the precautions shall not be sold
.

　　In Zhang Li's view, although the above-mentioned regulations further strengthen the obligation of producers and sellers to remind, they are still relatively principled, neither clarifying the precautions for food for minors nor specifying the corresponding legal responsibilities.
The operability is low in practice
.

　　Strengthen the construction of special national standards

　　Regarding the issue of children's food, many deputies to the National People's Congress suggested that the children's food should be regulated by legislation, and the corresponding national standards should be clarified as soon as possible
.

　　Zhang Li suggested that legislation should clarify the special classification of "children's food", introduce special food packaging labeling standards for minors, and clearly stipulate the nutritional content labeling, food additive requirements, and food safety standards of food for minors.
Eye-catching, simple and easy-to-understand graphics or text labels shall be used on prepackaged foods with minors as the main consumer object, to provide intuitive reminders of "three high" foods
.

　　In Yao Juan's view, it is necessary to take comprehensive measures to promote the high-quality development of the children's food industry, to promote a healthy and reasonable diet for children, and to better meet the relevant requirements of the dietary guidelines
.

　　Yao Juan suggested to establish and improve the standard system of children's food, and guide the children's food industry to develop from the norm in the development to the development in the norm
.
It is necessary to gradually establish and improve a children's food standard system based on children's meals, children's snacks, children's snacks, etc.
The development of the children's food industry is guided by corresponding technical regulations, with laws and evidence to follow
.

　　(Reporter Pu Xiaolei)