World Health Organization (WHO) has warned recently that industrial baby food often contains inappropriately high levels of sugar and that ingredient lists are often confusing. WHO suggested laying down new criteria with the aim of improving infant feeding. As representatives of this organization said, more than 30% of calories came from total sugar and around one third of products contained added sugar or other sweeteners.
The findings have been recorded according to the 8.000 examined products in more than 500 stores across Vienna, Sofia, Haifa and Budapest between November 2017 and January 2018.
Representatives of the Center for Health Ecology of the Institute for Public Health of Montenegro say that provisions of the Law on Food Safety have been harmonized with the EU Regulations. Regulation on the Conditions and Manners of Market placement of food for particular nutritive purposes defines the maximum required sugar concentration in the food for babies. However, the problem is that many products do not have sugar concentration clearly pointed out.
WHO also warned that high sugar intake could increase the risk of obesity or caries. Representatives of the Institute for Public Health say that a child might start to develop potentially harmful preference for sugary foods at an early age which will later provoke bad nutrition habits and obesity, cardio vascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.
According to the data from 2016, number of children of up to 19 years diagnosed with diabetes amounted to 32.
“Diabetes is a very common adult disease. At global level, European region has the highest number of children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus”, said the representatives of the Institute for Public Health.
Considering that every sixth child in Montenegro is obese, it is evident that specific measures must be undertaken. Such measures require joint action of the community.
“Every form of advertising foods high in energy, saturated fat, trans fats, sugar and salt must be reduced. Furthermore, it is necessary to ensure appropriate measures for independent monitoring and assessment of the achieved results. In addition, improvement of nutrition quality of the food is required. Consumers have to be able to see the ingredient lists clearly. Government institutions must cooperate, with the aim of endorsing healthier food choices in kindergartens, schools, public institutions and enterprises”, said the representatives of the Institute for Public Health.
Children with diabetes are usually restless, apathetic and have problems in school
Although diabetes is usually an adult disease, parents should be wary in case they notice the first symptoms such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, need for sweet drinks etc.
“Children with diabetes type 1 are usually restless, apathetic and might have problems in school. In acute cases, nausea and vomiting might appear as symptoms as well”, said the representatives of the Institute for Public Health.
There are three types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes mellitus juvenile, a patient has to get insulin, type 2 – diabetes mellitus and gestational diabetes.
Babies should be breastfed for at least six months of life
In 2018, WHO warned about the increase in obesity and excessive weight, threatening to affect the lifespan.
Around one third of the examined products contained sugar, concentrated fruit juices or other sweeteners that should not be added to the food for infants. Between 18 and 57% of the products had more than 30% of calories coming from sugar.
In order to encourage its members to adopt new guidelines, WHO has updated the recommendations. The organization wants the promotion of breast milk substitutes to end. It called for banning of added sugars in baby foods ans said labels on candies and sweetened beverages should state the products are not suitable for children under three.
