Wednesday, 22 July 2015
The first year of life is a period of rapid growth which sees the infant triple their birth weight and double their surface area.
Infant feeding has an important effect on growth and development, not only in the early period of life, but also on health during childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older age. There is increasing evidence that many illnesses, which present in adulthood, may have origins in infant feeding during the first year of life.
This report acknowledges a number of improvements in infant feeding practices have occurred within Ireland over the past 10 years in addition to a number of key issues relating to milk and complementary feeding still exist..
See also amendment to guidance on use of bottled water for infant formula
Update Notice:
An infant formula based on goats’ milk protein is suitable as source of nutrition provided the final product complies with the compositional criteria laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127.
Important Notice:
Pasteurised or unpasteurized goats’ milk is not suitable for infants and should not be given under any circumstances. These milks are not modified to provide the essential composition required of an infant formula.
Following the publication of the Scientific Recommendations for a National Infant Feeding Policy, 2nd Edition (FSAI, 2011), further assessments carried out by EFSA concluded that goats’ milk protein can be a suitable source of protein in infant and follow-on formulae, provided the final product complies with the compositional criteria laid down in Directive 2006/141/EC (EFSA, 2012). Directive 2006/141/EC was repealed by Regulation (EU) No 609/2013, supplemented by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for infant formula and follow-on formula.
The assessment by EFSA found there was no convincing evidence to support the belief that the risk of allergic reactions is lower when feeding goats’ milk-based formulae (EFSA, 2012) (see section 4.6.2).
Healthcare professionals should continue to provide individualised advice on the most appropriate method of infant feeding.
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (2012) Scientific Opinion on the suitability of goat milk protein as a source of protein in infant formulae and in follow-on formulae. Available at Suitability of goat milk protein as a source of protein in infant formulae and in follow-on formulae.
