Breast feeding is best for babies. If you are not able to, or choose not to breastfeed, then the baby MUST be fed an infant formula instead.
Infant formula is the only processed foodstuff which wholly satisfies the nutritional requirements of infants during the first months of life until the introduction of appropriate complementary feeding.
Infant formulae are intended to replace breast milk when the baby is not breastfed.. Introducing partial bottle feeding may have a negative effect on breast feeding and reversing a decision not to breast feed is difficult. Infant formulae should always be prepared and used as directed. Unnecessary or improper use of infant formula may present a health hazard. Social and financial implications should be considered when selecting a method of infant feeding.
You should always seek the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, infant feeding specialist, dietitian or pharmacist on the need for and proper method of use of infant formulae and on all matters of infant feeding.
Infant Formula: What is it?
All formula manufacturers include – at their most basic - proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and of course water. Starting with what we know about breastmilk, they combine different ingredients so that the nutrients in their artificial baby milk are included in approximately the same proportions as human milk. Putting it at its most basic, regular infant formulas are basically modified cows milk.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPARISON TABLE OF NAME BRANDS OF INFANT FORMULAE
COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2006/141/EC of 22 December 2006 on infant formulae and follow-on formulae and amending Directive 1999/21/EC
The Table Below is Derived From the European Directive 2006/141/EC
Vitamins and minerals which are essential for healthy growth and development, are added to formulae from sources stipulated by and within the range prescribed by European Directive 2006/141/EC of December 2006. Under the Directive, sources of ingredients, and things like maximum levels of pesticide residues, purity criteria, as well as the quantities of certain nutrients, are set out as below.
ESSENTIAL COMPOSITION OF INFANT FORMULAE WHEN RECONSTITUTED AS INSTRUCTED BY THE MANUFACTURER
Composition |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Comments |
|
|
|
|
Energy – kcal / 100ml |
60 |
70 |
|
Protein - g/100kcal : |
|
|
L-carnitine content shall be at least equal to 1.2 mg/100 kcal |
Taurine - mg/100 kcal |
0 |
12 |
|
Choline - mg/100 kcal |
7 |
50 |
|
Lipids – g/100kcal |
4.4 |
6 |
|
|
- |
separately or as a whole: 20 % of the total fat content |
The trans fatty acid content shall not exceed 3 % of the total fat content. The erucic acid content shall not exceed 1 % of the total fat content. |
Linoleic acid (in the form of glycerides = linoleates) - mg/100 kcal |
|
|
The alpha-linolenic acid content shall not be less than 50 mg/100 kcal; the linoleic:alpha-linolenic acid ratio shall not be less than 5 nor greater than 15. |
|
|
1 % of the total fat content for n-3 LCP |
The eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3) content shall not exceed that of docosahexaenoic (22:6 n-3) acid content. |
PHOSPHOLIPIDS |
- |
2 g/l |
|
INOSITOL - mg/100 kcal |
4 |
40 |
|
|
|
|
Only the following carbohydrates may be used: lactose; maltose; sucrose; glucose; malto-dextrins; glucose syrup or dried glucose syrup; pre-cooked starch or gelatinised starch - naturally free of gluten. |
|
|
|
This provision shall not apply to infant formulae in which soya protein isolates represent more than 50 % of the total protein content. |
pre-cooked starch and/or gelatinised starch |
- |
2 g/100 ml, and 30 % of the total carbohydrate content |
|
Sodium – mg / 100 kcal |
20 |
60 |
|
Potassium - mg / 100 kcal |
60 |
160 |
|
Chloride – mg / 100 kcal |
50 |
160 |
|
Calcium – mg / 100 kcal |
50 |
140 |
The calcium:phosphorus ratio shall not be less than 1 nor greater than 2. |
Phosphorus – mg / 100 kcal |
25 |
90 |
|
Magnesium – mg / 100 kcal |
5 |
15 |
|
Iron – mg / 100 kcal |
0.3 |
1.3 |
|
Zinc – mg / 100 kcal |
0.5 |
1.5 |
|
Copper – µ g / 100kcal |
35 |
100 |
|
Iodine – µ g / 100kcal |
10 |
50 |
|
Selenium – µ g / 100kcal |
1 |
9 |
|
Manganese – µ g / 100kcal |
1 |
100 |
|
Fluoride – µ g / 100kcal |
- |
100 |
|
Sucrose |
|
20 % total carbohydrate content |
may only be added to infant formulae manufactured from protein hydrolysates. |
Glucose |
|
2 g/100 kcal |
may only be added to infant formulae manufactured from protein hydrolysates |
|
- |
0.8 g/100 ml in a combination of 90% oligogalactosyl-lactose and 10% high molecular weight oligofructosyl-saccharose. |
|
Vitamin A - µg / 100kcal all trans retinol equivalent |
60 |
180 |
|
Vitamin D - µg / 100kcal |
1 |
2.5 |
In the form of cholecalciferol, of which 10 µ g = 400 i.u. of vitamin D. |
Thiamin - µg / 100kcal |
60 |
300 |
|
Riboflavin - µg / 100kcal |
80 |
400 |
|
Niacin (µg) - µg / 100kcal |
1 |
500 |
Preformed niacin. |
Pantothenic acid - µg / 100kcal |
400 |
2000 |
|
Vitamin B 6 - µg / 100kcal |
35 |
175 |
|
Biotin - µg / 100kcal |
1.5 |
7.5 |
|
Folic Acid - µg / 100kcal |
10 |
50 |
|
Vitamin B 12 - µg / 100kcal |
0.1 |
0.5 |
|
Vitamin C - µg / 100kcal |
10 |
30 |
|
Vitamin K - µg / 100kcal |
4 |
25 |
|
Vitamin E – mg/100kcal d-a-tocopherol equivalent |
0,5/g of polyunsaturated fatty acids expressed as linoleic acid as corrected for the double bonds but in no case less than 0,5 mg per 100 available kcal |
5 |
|
NUCLEOTIDES The following nucleotides may be added: cytidine 5 ' -monophosphate - mg/100 kcal uridine 5 ' -monophosphate - mg/100 kcal adenosine 5 ' -monophosphate - mg/100 kcal guanosine 5 ' -monophosphate - mg/100 kcal inosine 5 ' -monophosphate - mg/100 kcal |
|
1.75 1.50 0.50 1.00 |
The total concentration of nucleotides shall not exceed 5 mg/100 kcal |
Additional notes:
In all cases, amino acids may be added to infant formulae solely for the purpose of improving the nutritional value of the proteins, and only in the proportions necessary for that purpose.
The following are prohibited: sesame seed oil, cotton seed oil.
Infant formulae manufactured from soya protein isolates, alone or in a mixture with cows' milk proteins
All requirements above shall apply, except for those concerning iron and phosphorus, which shall be as follows:
Per 100 kcal |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Iron (mg) |
0.45 |
2 |
Phosphorus (mg) |
30 |
100 |