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| INFANT FEEDING REPORT FINAL 2011.pdf | Final Report | 1436Kb | Adobe PDF | 
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| Title: | Scientific recommendations for a national infant feeding policy, 2nd edition |
| Authors: | Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) |
| Publisher: | Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) |
| Issue Date: | 2011 |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10147/253492 |
| Additional Links: | http://www.fsai.ie/scientificrecommendationsforanationalinfantfeedingpolicy.html |
| Type: | Technical Report |
| Language: | en |
| Description: | In 1999, the FSAI published ‘Recommendations for a National Infant Feeding Policy’. This report recognised that the period stretching from
conception through to the end of the first year of life, is an important period of development. Diet (both maternal and infant) is one of the
most critical environmental factors during this stage, influencing both growth and development during infancy, as well as having far-reaching
effects on health in adult life. Over the past decade, new scientific evidence relating to infant feeding has emerged, and Ireland has responded
by publishing reports and developing new policies, such as the vitamin D supplementation of infants and guidance on the safe preparation of
powdered infant formula. In addition, new public health pressures such as rising childhood obesity exist within Ireland today. These changes
are not reflected in the original FSAI report, therefore necessitating a revision of ‘Recommendations for a National Infant Feeding Policy’ (FSAI,
1999).
Although a number of improvements in infant feeding practices have occurred within Ireland over the past 10 years, recent research has
indicated that a number of key issues relating to milk and complementary feeding still exist. Breastfeeding is the biologically normal infant
feeding method specifically adapted for optimum human growth, development and health. However, despite this, breastfeeding initiation and
duration rates in Ireland remain far below other countries. Also, notwithstanding the continued prevalence of formula feeding, many parents
do not know how to handle and prepare formula safely for their infants. Furthermore, the majority of infants continue to begin the weaning
process before the recommended age, further highlighting the need for increased awareness of the correct infant feeding practices in Ireland
today. More worryingly from a public health perspective, the types of weaning foods used are also inappropriate, and Dublin based research
has shown that infants in Dublin receive high-fat, high-sugar confectionary foods more frequently than fruit and vegetables.
The issue of parent and care-giver education needs to be addressed in order to improve this situation, and promote best practice in infant
feeding across Ireland. This will help to ensure that infants in Ireland receive the best possible nutritional input; helping to protect their health
both now and throughout later life. |
| Keywords: | FOOD SAFETY
INFANT NUTRITION
NUTRITION
VITAMIN
WEANING |
| ISBN: | 1904465781 |
| Appears in Collections: | FSAI
|
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