Compositional Requirements of Follow-Up Formula for Use in Infancy: Recommendations of an International Expert Group Coordinated by the Early Nutrition Academy

The follow-up formula (FUF) standard of Codex Alimentarius adopted
in1987 does not correspond to the recently updated Codex infant
formula(IF) standard and current scientific knowledge. New Zealand
proposed arevision of the FUF Codex standard and asked the
non-profit EarlyNutrition Academy, in collaboration with the
Federation of InternationalSocieties for Paediatric
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition(FISPGHAN), for a
consultation with paediatric nutrition experts toprovide scientific
guidance. This global expert group strongly supportsbreastfeeding.
FUF are considered dispensable because IF can substitutefor
breastfeeding throughout infancy, but FUF are widely used and
thusthe outdated current FUF standard should be revised. Like IF,
FUF serveas breast milk substitutes; hence their marketing should
respectappropriate standards. The compositional requirements for
FUF forinfants from 6 months onwards presented here were
unanimously agreedupon. For some nutrients, the compositional
requirements for FUF differfrom those of IF due to differing needs
with infant maturation as wellas a rising contribution of an
increasingly diversified diet withadvancing age. FUF should be fed
with adequate complementary feedingthat is also appropriate for
partially breastfed infants. FUF could befed also after the age of
1 year without safety concerns, but differentcompositional
requirements should be applied for optimal, age-adaptedmilk-based
formulations for young children used only after the age of 1year.
This has not been considered as part of this review and should
bethe subject of further consideration.