Expert gives advice on choosing safe baby food

Particular importance is attached to the organization of nutrition of young children, who have practically no reserves of food substances, imperfect digestion and absorption processes and significantly increased sensitivity to the action of various substances contaminating products. In a conversation with Izvestia on September 23, Oksana Ivanova, quality director of JSC Progress, gave advice on choosing safe baby food.

"Potential dangers in baby food products can be related, for example, to the presence of harmful additives, chemical elements, allergens, microbiological contamination, as well as improper nutrient content. All this can adversely affect the child's health," she warned.

According to her, the main causes of hypersensitivity of young children to the action of various pollutants are increased permeability of protective barriers (skin, mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract and upper respiratory tract) for foreign, including toxic, substances and immaturity of enzyme systems, including detoxification of foreign substances. This implies the need for increased hygienic requirements for the quality and safety of industrially produced baby food products, the expert explained.

"The hazards associated with the production of baby food products along the entire technological chain are determined by the possible risks. Four main categories of risks are distinguished: biological, chemical, physical and allergens," Ivanova said.

To the first group she referred microbiological - pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic bacteria, mold, fungi and other. The most dangerous for the life and health of children are bacteria of the E. coli group, cronobacteria, sulfite-reducing clostridia, Staphylococcus aureus, listeria, salmonella.

"Chemical risks include migration substances from packaging, pesticides, heavy metals, nitrates, radionuclides, veterinary drugs (antibiotics, hormones) and more," the expert explained.

Among the physical risks, Ivanova singled out foreign objects that can harm the body. According to her, such dangers as glass packaging in baby food or mineral and metal impurities are noted.

"A separate group of hazards includes allergens. Allergens contained in food provoke the development of food allergies. The so-called big eight products that most often cause allergic reactions in children include cow's milk, chicken eggs, soy, peanuts, peanuts, nuts, wheat, seafood and fish," she specified.

The expert reminded that in the products of baby food is not allowed to contain carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, all types of mycotoxins, and the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of other indicators (toxic elements, pesticides, nitrates) should be significantly lower than for adults.

"When choosing baby food products, it is important to carefully study their composition and origin. It is recommended to avoid products of dubious origin or with unknown composition. Priority should be given to natural products that do not contain artificial additives or hormones. It is also worth considering the age recommendations indicated on the product packaging to ensure that the child has all the necessary nutrients," Ivanova added.

Earlier, on September 19, the expert of the laboratory "Hemotest", doctor-gastroenterologist Ekaterina Kashukh told in a conversation with "Izvestia", what food can be dangerous for a child up to three years old. According to her, until this age, the diet of children gradually introduce vegetables, fruits, cereals, lean meat, fish and a small amount of vegetable and animal oils. In the diet of a child under three years old should not include pickles, canned food, including homemade, sausages, she said.