F.A.O. Gives Warning On Baby Food Additives

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29900, 14 August 1962, Page 18

F.A.O. Gives Warning On Baby Food Additives

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

ROME, August 12. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation today warned against the use of additives in baby food. An announcement said a group of F.A.O. experts “have

come out strongly against the use of additives in the preparation of baby foods.” The experts base their opposition “on the low resistance of babies to toxic materials in their diet.”

The experts’ conclusions were contained in a report by a joint expert committee on food additives, which would be available within a few months.

The announcement quoted the report as saying: "Foods that are specifically prepared for babies require separate consideration from all other foods as regards the use of food additives and the toxicological risks.

“The reason for this is that the detovicating mechanisms that are effective in the more mature individual may be ineffective in the baby “If the use of a food additive is necessary in a baby food, great caution should be exercised both in the choice of additive and in the level of use.” The F.A.O. announcement said additives were sometimes in baby foods “of necessity.” as with agents added to food to prevent it becoming stale or rancid.