Without dyes and preservatives: choose baby food. What are the dangers of nutritional supplements for children

” №1/2009 04.08.11

Our expert pediatrician Irina Zakharova:

Ideally, if a child at 1 year of age is fed breast milk - in this case, he receives everything necessary for full development. But there are situations when breastfeeding is not possible, and parents are forced to use artificial mixtures.

Baby food does not contain GMOs

Be very careful when choosing baby food! Keep in mind that feeding with poor artificial mixtures not only contributes to the frequent occurrence of acute and chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, allergic diseases, but also leads to impaired physical and intellectual development of the child.

Fortunately, today a large assortment of similar products of fairly high quality is offered for babies, which meet all the requirements of a growing body. In addition, our country has recently adopted a new Technical Regulation for milk and dairy products, which was compiled jointly with the country's leading pediatricians. This document, based on many years of experience of doctors, as well as on the results of recent research, sets strict standards for manufacturers of baby food. For example, it bans the use of artificial flavors, colors and GMOs, tightens requirements for food additives, nutrient levels, and so on.

Baby products: for nutrition and development

Pediatricians believe that proper feeding performs very important functions: not only nutritional (providing the child with proteins, fats, carbohydrates, etc.), but also sensory (impact on taste, olfactory and other receptors), as well as regulatory (impact on immunity , gastrointestinal tract and other organs).

That is why doctors pay so much attention to the quality of children's products and warn their parents: you must be extremely careful when choosing baby food, since not all products produced by this industry are suitable for a child.

Prohibited additives in baby food

If you want your child to continue to grow up smart and healthy, you should not follow his lead when he reaches for a bright wrapper and a funny surprise inside the package in the store. When determining the diet of a child, focus primarily on the quality of the products. Therefore, when buying

Baby food should be natural and, if possible, free from additives such as preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, etc. Their use is due to the manufacturer's desire to increase the shelf life of the product, improve its consistency, but, unfortunately, it has a sad effect on the health of children. An excess of starch, for example, can lead to the development of diabetes later in life.

In the presence of flavorings, the phrase "identical to natural" should not be used. The use of such products in baby food is prohibited. After all, identical does not mean natural. This is "chemistry", i.e. artificial substance. This means that it can lead to various physiological and mental disorders: late development, allergies, diarrhea, etc.

The packaging must have special markers for age restrictions: for example, up to 1 year, up to 8 months and others. If there are no age markers on the packaging, it means that the product has been certified as an adult product, even if the gift is a bright toy, and the packaging is designed using fun fonts and pictures.

Also keep in mind that the presence of certain ingredients in food for children is strictly unacceptable. For example, the list of the most common artificial colors prohibited in the production of baby food includes E 104, E110, E 122, E 124, E 129, E131, E 132, E 171. Also, gelatin cannot be used in infant food.

But some modified starches are allowed for use in the production of baby food. These are E 1422, Y 1414, E 1420, E 1451, E 1412, E 1410, E 1404, E 1413, E1450. If there is a mention of starch on the label, but it is indicated by other numbers, this indicates that the product contains a substance harmful to young children.

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Something is wrong with the teenager.

Signs of internal readiness for suicide can be changes in sleep and appetite, problems with academic performance, loss of interest in one's appearance, and increased aggressiveness. Teenagers may start giving away things that are dear to their friends. Without parental support, a teenager often gives up.

It is no secret that the presence of preservatives is highly undesirable in the diet of a child. But it is also known that the food industry cannot completely abandon their use. Therefore, parents should know what permitted additives appear in baby food products, and whether they should be wary of.

Why is the use of preservatives ubiquitous?

Most of us know that preservatives are food additives that are widely used to extend the shelf life of foods. They can also be called E-additives. Of course, not all preservatives are the harmful brainchild of the chemical industry. For example, table salt and acetic acid are natural preservatives that are used daily in home cooking.

In developed countries, certain requirements apply to preservatives. First of all, they must be harmless to humans. Also, they should not chemically react with the product packaging materials, reduce nutritional value and give food an extraneous taste or smell. One can argue with the first and last points. “Harmful to human health” is a relative concept, and only the most aggressive E-additives were included in the list of prohibited preservatives. But this does not mean that the permitted preservatives do not carry any harm. In addition, some of them clearly change the taste and smell of products, contrary to the rules.

How exactly do preservatives extend the shelf life of foods? Usually they have a bactericidal effect, that is, they stop the growth or destroy microorganisms that can spoil food. E-additives can be injected directly into the product or used on its surface. So, with the help of the E-200, dry vegetables and fruits are processed, which then end up on store shelves.

Why are preservatives dangerous?

E-additives block the work of enzymes in products that can quickly deteriorate. This favorably affects the ability to store food in the refrigerator for a long time, but negatively affects the value composition of our menu.
Preservatives destroy not only microorganisms, but also amino acids, vitamins and minerals in food. The fact is that along with microorganisms in food, under the influence of a preservative, amino acids, vitamins and microelements also “die off”. As a result, a tasty, good-smelling and fresh-looking product gets on the child's table, but its vitamin and mineral part tends to zero.

Of course, the constant use of foods high in E-supplements is fraught with hypovitaminosis. The risk is especially great if the child does not favor fresh vegetables and fruits, preferring “chemical” yoghurts and sausages to them.

Also, nutritionists have recently concluded that a number of preservatives can cause hyperactivity in children. These are, first of all, phosphates, which are found in sausages, carbonated lemonades and sweets. Their effect can be compared with a large dose of sugar or caffeine.

E-additives in children's products

As already mentioned, there is a list of prohibited and permitted preservatives for food manufacturers. Of course, products labeled “suitable for baby food” contain a minimum amount of preservatives, but they also contain E-supplements. In addition, on the table of a child of even an early age there are dishes prepared from all kinds of products, and not just special "children's".

The basic rule of reasonable parents is to avoid store-bought "long-playing" foods. Milk, kefir and yogurt, which can be stored for more than 10 days, should be alarming. The same can be said about meat, non-stale bread, and fruit that stays fresh for weeks on display.

Read the labels carefully to make the right filter in the store. Below we list some E-supplements that are allowed, but still undesirable for a child’s nutrition, which you can easily find in many products:

• E621 (monosodium glutamate) is a flavor enhancer that is included in almost all sauces and semi-finished products.
• E251 - E252 (sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate) - additives that are always found in sausages, smoked fish and some hard cheeses. They have an extremely negative effect on the functioning of the intestines and can lead to dysbacteriosis.
• Dyes E171 - E173 - are found in "colored" carbonated drinks, candy, ice cream and other not the most natural desserts.
• E407, E447, E450, E461 - E466 - stabilizers and thickeners. Contained in jams, jams, condensed milk, chocolate cheese.
• E221 - E226, E230 - 232, E239 - additives contained in canned food of any kind and can cause allergic reactions and food intolerance.

Read the label of any product. In the composition - preservatives, dyes, thickeners, stabilizers, "Eshki", and much more. Can such additives be harmless and which of them, on the contrary, are very dangerous for children? Let's figure it out!

No wonder they say: we are what we eat. But, if an adult organism can experience less than such overloads, then for a child’s fragile organism, any supplement can become poison. Therefore, before being used in products, all food additives undergo mandatory certification, confirming that they comply with the accepted norms and standards of GOST. To shorten the long and complex names of chemicals, they are assigned the so-called E-number - the letter E plus a three-digit number. The first number is a code denoting a group of substances:

1. .1 - dyes;
2. .2 - preservatives;
3. .3 - antioxidants;
4. .4 - stabilizers;
5. .5 - emulsifiers;
6. .6 - flavor enhancers.

Despite the fact that many nutritional supplements are considered officially harmless, such substances are still alien to the body. But the intestinal microflora of a child has its own characteristics - and this must be taken into account. For example, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate, used for cooking sausages, sausages and smoked meats, under the influence of immature microflora, can turn into nitrites - toxic substances, which, in turn, can cause food poisoning.

What are nutritional supplements?

Nutritional supplements- These are natural or synthesized substances that are added to products in order to preserve or give them the necessary properties. Dyes and preservatives are recognized as the most allergenic among food additives.

Dyes are used to give color to products that do not have their own, to restore color lost as a result of processing, or simply to increase its intensity. Dyes are natural and synthetic. In the manufacture of natural, plant and animal components are used, while artificial dyes are synthesized chemically. Some natural food colorings are biologically active, such as E-101 (vitamin B2). Such additives can be safely used in baby food. But artificial dyes from the children's menu should be completely excluded: many of them cause allergies.

preservatives- These are substances that allow food to be stored longer. The principle of their action is based on preventing the development of spoilage-causing microorganisms in the products. You need to understand: even if the content of the preservative is not indicated on the product label, but at the same time it has a long shelf life (especially over 6 months), this additive is still present. Preservatives are divided into natural and artificial. Natural, for example, acetic (E-260) or lactic (E-270) acids are relatively harmless, artificial very often provoke allergic reactions. In the nutrition of a child of the first years of life (ideally, preschoolers), it is better to avoid any preservatives! Although it is worth noting here that such a natural and healthy preservative as vitamin C, which has extremely beneficial properties, can be used for baby food.

Antioxidants or antioxidants are substances that slow down the process of food oxidation. Thus, fats and fat-containing foods are protected from rancidity, and vegetables and fruits from browning. By the way, thanks to antioxidants, the shelf life of products also increases. In the production of baby food products, a natural component, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), is usually used as an antioxidant.

Thickeners are used to prepare products such as jelly, marmalade, puddings, ice cream and others to give them a denser consistency. Most often, vegetable additives are used as a thickener: agar, pectin, gelatin, starch, thickener from carob seeds ... They will not harm the child's body, but you still need to be careful with such additives, since in excessive amounts they can lead to indigestion.

Stabilizers and emulsifiers are used to maintain the shape and consistency of products. They are used in almost all dairy products, helping to keep them homogeneous, for mixing products that do not mix under normal conditions (for example, thanks to the emulsifier, water does not settle on the surface of mayonnaise). Most often, the same pectin, gelatin and similar substances are used as stabilizers and emulsifiers.

Flavor enhancers are also food additives. As the name implies, they are used to enhance the natural taste and aroma of products. They are used in the manufacture of sausages and confectionery, as well as many semi-finished products (for example, "soups from the bag"). The most well-known flavor enhancer is glutamic acid and its salts, in particular monosodium glutamate (E-621). Flavor enhancers are not allowed in baby food!

Sweeteners- These are substances that are used to give the product a sweet taste. The industry uses both natural and artificial components. Only natural sweeteners such as fructose, lactose and glucose are allowed in baby food.

Synthetic sweeteners- aspartame, xylitol, cyclomate and others - are not recommended for preschool children. Products containing saccharin are strictly contraindicated for children!

Of course, in the modern world, it is impossible to completely protect a child from food additives. But still it is worth paying a little more attention to studying the composition of the purchased product. Do not forget that the health of children largely depends on proper nutrition.

Food additives not allowed for children

E-number	Additive name	Purpose
E-102	Tartrazine (synthetic)	Dye
E-104	Quinoline yellow	Dye
E-127	Erythrosine (synthetic)	Dye
E-128	Red 2Y, shiny FCF	Dye
E-140	Chlorophyll	Dye
E-153	Vegetable charcoal	Dye
E-154, E-155	Brown	Dye
E-171	Titanium dioxide	Dye
E-200 to E-240	Preservatives of various nature	preservatives
E-249 to E-252	Potassium nitrates and nitrates	Preservatives and color stabilizers
E-260 to E-264	Acetic acid and its salts	Preservatives, acidity regulators
E-280 to E-283	Propionic acid and its salts	preservatives
E-620 to E-625	Glutamic acid and its salts	Flavor enhancers
E-916, E-917	Calcium and potassium iodates	Flour treatment products
E-952	Cyclamates and cyclamanic acid	Sweetener
E-954	Saccharin	Sweetener

In the nutrition of children, most are only guessing. Let's try to answer these questions in this article.

Purposes of using food additives in children's food

According to the technical regulation of the Customs Union "Safety requirements for food additives, flavors and technological aids" TR TS 029/2012* (hereinafter referred to as TR TS 029/2012), a food additive is a substance or mixture that has no nutritional value and is used in cooking to ensure its transportation, storage or giving the desired consistency. Some artificially created ingredients in children's nutrition:

• dyes (E100–E182);
• preservatives (E200-E299);
• antioxidants (E300-E399);
• consistency stabilizers (E400-E449, E1400-E1499);
• emulsifiers and thickeners (E450-E499);
• acidity regulators and disintegrators (E500-E599);
• flavor and aroma enhancers (E600-E699);
• antibiotics (E700–E799)**;
• sweeteners (E950–E969); others (E900-E949, E970-E1399, E1500, etc.).

The use of these additives in technological processes of food preparation is carried out in order to:

• increase the attractiveness of products;
• saving raw materials, changing the recipe while maintaining the minimum price of raw materials;
• reduction in the cost of the cooking process;
• increase the shelf life of finished products.

Many additives that formally belong to one of the classes have a wide spectrum of action, so their use allows you to achieve several goals at once.

Requirements for the use of food additives in children's food

It is unacceptable to use food additives in educational organizations that are not included in the List of food additives approved for use in food production (Appendix 2 to TR CU 029/2012). Although it is not uncommon for products containing prohibited ingredients from the Asian region to hit the shelves, especially in sauces and seasonings. Therefore, it is better to refuse to purchase them in the markets, and also not to buy products that have suspicious factory markings or do not have it at all.

At the same time, prohibited ingredients may be present in children's products, which are produced in conditions of handicraft production and raw materials purchased by enterprises from the population and small producers. For example, Roskontrol revealed a banned preservative urotropin in canned salmon caviar from a well-known manufacturer. Since caviar is sometimes among the products for children not only of school age, but also of preschool age, when it is included in the menu of an educational organization, it must be remembered that a popular brand name does not guarantee the absence of this dangerous preservative.

It should also be taken into account that manufacturers sometimes “forget” to indicate the full composition of the goods sold, thereby misleading the consumer. For example, on the labels of canned fish containing preservatives, there are no marks on the content of additives of this type. Roskontrol often declares the facts of the detection of prohibited additives in children's food, namely:

• preservatives - in sausages, minced meat, cottage cheese, milk, salmon caviar, salted fish, butter;
• dyes - in juices and soft drinks;
• phosphates (moisture-retaining agents) - in sausages;
• bleaching agents - in flour;
• thickeners - in ketchups, mayonnaise, dumplings filling, sausages.

Often, the manufacturer himself does not know that the manufactured products contain a particular substance. This can happen, for example, if it got into it with raw materials, the supplier of which did not indicate the relevant information in the accompanying documents.

The identification of nutritional supplements not listed in the composition of children's food in all cases is qualified as falsification ***.

Preservatives such as sulfites are often used to preserve edible fruits and vegetables. If the product undergoes heat treatment, then they are destroyed during the cooking process.

However, in the manufacture of some products, the fruit fillers used are not subjected to heat treatment (this applies, for example, to many types of confectionery products), and sulfite remains in them, although it is most often not indicated in the composition.

Often, in general, substances permitted for use are found in those types of children's food in which their use is not provided for by the technical regulations approved for the relevant products. This is considered a security violation. In particular, cocoa, chocolate, fruits, vegetables, juices, nectars, compotes, jams, canned fruits and vegetables, vegetable oils, cheeses, raw meat products, bread and pasta and other products must not contain preservatives.

In the production of milk, fermented milk products, concentrated or condensed milk, vegetables (except for olives), fruits, mushrooms (including canned vegetables and mushrooms), flour, cereals, starch, eggs, and it is not allowed to use dyes.

In the production of dried fruits, sulfites are usually used, which play the role of preservatives. It is possible to use them for cooking children's food (for example, when cooking compote or cooking porridge with the addition of dried fruits) only after heat treatment. For such children's food products as butter, cheeses, canned vegetables, sausages, a strictly limited list of dyes (mainly natural) is provided. For example, in the composition of butter, only beta-carotene (provitamin A), also known as E160, is allowed. The use of other ingredients in children's food of this kind is prohibited.

It is forbidden to add any additives other than dyes to the composition of any product that has not undergone primary processing. The list of products falling under this definition includes honey, mineral waters, cream, milk, sugar, herbal drinks of natural origin. At the same time, the inspection authorities repeatedly revealed the presence of prohibited additives in minced meat, and one of the manufacturers, apparently without fully understanding the situation, honestly indicated the composition on the product packaging.

The benefits and harms of food additives in children's food

It cannot be argued that all nutritional supplements for children are unambiguously harmful. In some situations, their use is even beneficial for humans. The main thing is that no more of these additives get into the body than necessary. For example, widely used preservatives such as sorbic acid and sorbates E200-E203, sulfur dioxide and sulfites (E220-E228) have proven antivitamin activity, that is, the ability to destroy vitamins. And if a single use of such ingredients is not capable of leading to serious consequences, then their systematic presence in the diet is fraught with the development of beriberi. At the same time, the country's food industry actively uses these preservatives.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that synthetic dyes can have a harmful effect on the mental state of the child. In particular, these are azorubine or carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104), sunset yellow FCF (E110), charming red AC (E129), ponceau 4R (E124) and tartrazine (E102). In relation to adults, the development of the above pathology has not been proven, therefore these additives are not included in the list of prohibited ones. It is recommended that products containing synthetic dyes be labeled with the appropriate designation on the labels, however, since there is no such requirement in the technical regulation of the Customs Union "Food products in terms of their labeling" TR TS 022/2011 **** (hereinafter - TR CU 022 / 2011), products that are not properly labeled continue to hit the shelves.

As part of children's food, the use of only those additives, the safety of which has been proven by authorized state bodies, is allowed.

Separate groups of additives can harm only certain categories of consumers. So, the sweeteners aspartame (E951) and aspartame-acesulfame salt (E962) are categorically contraindicated for people suffering from phenylketonuria (phenylpyruvic oligophrenia) - a relatively rare congenital disease (for 7-10 thousand newborns there is one case of the disease). A manufacturer using such ingredients in baby food is required to label the product accordingly.

It has been proven that the sweeteners xylitol, sorbitol and lures, when consumed in large quantities, can have a laxative effect. At the same time, sweeteners and sweeteners should not be included in the diet of small diabetics and overweight children. However, rarely do manufacturers add these ingredients to their products in order to take care of special categories of children, such a step is nothing more than a search for a cheaper analogue of expensive sugar.

The presence of phosphoric acid (E338), phosphates (E339-E343, E542), pyrophosphates (E450), triphosphates (E451) and polyphosphates (E452) in baby products does not carry a potential risk. But using too many additives, often found in practice, can be dangerous. Phosphoric acid and phosphates are often found in meat products, poultry and fish, dairy products, processed cheeses, confectionery and flour products. As a water-retaining agent, phosphates significantly increase the mass of finished products compared to the mass of raw materials, so thanks to their use, meat producers can earn money by selling water instead of meat. In the production of baby food, it is forbidden to use sorbic, benzoic acids and their salts (E200-E203, E210-E213). Children's food should not contain sweeteners (with the exception of special products for children with diabetes or obesity).

However, this is not the worst part. The fact is that phosphorus should enter the body only in a strictly defined ratio with calcium (the “correct” ratio, for example, in milk). This balance is especially important for a child whose skeleton is being formed. Today, most children consume dairy products, which are the main source of calcium in the diet, in much smaller quantities than doctors recommend. Against the background of calcium deficiency, an excess of phosphorus (relative and absolute) causes gradual demineralization of bone tissue. In other words, calcium is "washed out" of the bones. It is not surprising that if earlier osteoporosis was considered an exclusively senile disease, today doctors record low bone density in more than a third of adolescents. But this is not only a threat of fractures, but a pathology of the skeletal system, problems with posture, etc. That is why it is necessary to strictly limit the amount of phosphates in the children's menu. In addition, phosphoric acid (E338), contained in many products, is dangerous for teeth. This is one of the factors that cause caries.

Many experts believe that taste enhancers (glutamates, etc.), being a natural component of food of natural origin, do not have a harmful effect on health. However, there is evidence that an excess of flavor enhancers in food can encourage a child to overconsume one type of food, up to the development of psychological dependence. This, in turn, can lead to an unbalanced diet and overweight.

Another side effect of consuming nutritional supplements is the development of an allergic reaction. The most common allergies are aspartame (E951), aspartame-acesulfame salt (E962), sulfur dioxide and sulfites (E220-E228). Manufacturers are required to warn consumers of possible adverse effects*****.

However, an allergy can develop to any substance. The fact that it was caused by a food additive has yet to be established. If any food causes an allergic reaction in them, then it should be avoided, regardless of the presence or absence of additives in its composition. Children's food products must meet the requirements of a sparing diet, so acidity is an important parameter. The composition of products intended for children should not include acidity regulators - acetic acid, phosphoric (orthophosphoric) acid, carbon dioxide (carbonated drinks are not allowed).

Nitrites (E250) are involuntarily used in the composition of sausages (including for the prevention of botulism). However, its content is limited to no more than 30 mg / kg, so special children's sausages and sausages can be given to a child without restrictions. Nitrites should not be used in other children's foods. Ordinary sausages for the mass consumer should not fall on the child's dinner table.

Permitted food additives in children's food

It should be borne in mind that harmless food ingredients are often hidden under the E codes in children's food products. So, as dyes (coloring ingredients) of children's products can be used:

• vitamins and provitamins, in particular carotenoids (E160a);
• riboflavin (E101);
• vitamin (vitamin-mineral) premixes (in quantities not exceeding the established physiological norms for the consumption of vitamins);
• natural dyes obtained from vegetables, fruits, berries (E140, E160-E163, etc.).

Safe food additives such as baking soda (E500ii) and citric acid (E330) can also be used as part of children's food, dishes and culinary products, including those prepared in the food department of an educational organization. To assist the reader, we have compiled a list of safe food additives that are approved for use in infant formulas, including those intended for toddlers under the age of three.

Food Additives Approved for Use in Children's Foods

Organizing the nutrition of children, you should try to minimize the consumption of food additives contained in the products. In this regard, it is desirable to use only specialized food products for children, in the production of which food additives are not used or in which their amount is minimal.

Ethyl alcohol and caffeine are often found in the form of dietary supplements, although it is strictly forbidden to include them in children's diets. At the same time, it should be noted that caffeine in food products is not marked with a special designation, therefore its presence in the composition is easy to go unnoticed.

Often, children's gift sets of sweets include alcohol-containing sweets, which is also a serious violation of the norm. These "dangerous" sweets include fudge sweets, which are present in almost all sets due to their low cost.

Flavorings in children's foods

Food flavoring is an artificially created substance, characterized by distinctive taste and aroma properties, used to enhance the taste and aroma characteristics of products. A distinctive feature of these additives is the inclusion in the composition of products in a minimum amount, which is explained by the peculiarities of their composition. As a rule, flavors are chemically pure substances that are not capable of causing serious harm to the body. However, in order to inculcate the right taste habits, you should not include foods that have a pronounced taste and aroma in the children's diet.

In conclusion, I would like to note that even permitted artificial ingredients should be included in the menu in reasonable quantities, since their uncontrolled use can lead to the development of malaise in children and adults.

Regulations

Sanitary and epidemiological rules and regulations “Hygienic requirements for the use of food additives. SanPiN 2.3.2.1293-03 "(approved by the Decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation of April 18, 2003 No. 59).

Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “Safety Requirements for Food Additives, Flavorings and Technological Aids. TR TS 029/2012” (adopted by the decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated July 20, 2012 No. 58).

Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On food safety. TR TS 021/2011” (adopted by the decision of the Commission of the Customs Union dated 09.12.2011 No. 880). Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “Food products in terms of their labeling. TR TS 022/2011” (adopted by the decision of the Commission of the Customs Union dated 09.12.2011 No. 881).

* Adopted by the decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated July 20, 2012 No. 58.

** Additives of this class are not included in the List of food additives allowed for use in the production of food products (Appendix 2 to TR CU 029/2012).

*** On the website of NP Roskontrol, roskontrol.rf, a “black list” of products is published, the manufacturers of which do not indicate the full composition of the ingredients. On the website of the Research Institute of Baby Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences www.niidp.ru, you can get acquainted with the register of food products that have passed expert selection for the possibility of using them in the nutrition of preschoolers and schoolchildren.

**** Adopted by the decision of the Commission of the Customs Union dated 09.12.2011 No. 881. ***** TR CU 022/2011 allows the release of products without such marking until February 15, 2015. Before this date, the issue of its availability remains at the discretion of the manufacturer .

- child nutrition. The normal physical and neuropsychic development of the child, the development of immunity to various diseases depends on a properly constructed diet. A feature of the development of children of all ages is their high need for all nutritional and biological components. The question of the needs of children older than a year in nutrients is considered differently for different age groups. In the USSR, it is customary to divide children into the following age groups: from birth to 2.5-3.5 weeks (the neonatal period), then up to 1 year, then from 1 year to 3 years, from 3 to 7 years, from 7 to 12 years and from 12 to 15 years. The child's food should contain all the necessary nutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates, mineral salts, vitamins, etc.) in the required amount with the correct ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates (respectively 1:1:4). In children of senior school age (12-15 years old), due to increased energy costs, the need for carbohydrates increases, and this ratio should be 1:1:5.

The digestive capacity of the gastrointestinal tract of a child by the 1st year of life reaches significant perfection, and the set of products for children older than a year should become more diverse. They consume milk and dairy products, eggs, meat (beef, veal, lean pork, chicken, brains, liver), lean fish, cereals and flour products, sugar. Particular attention in the menu should be given to a variety of vegetables and fruits, berries, both fresh and processed. It is recommended to include garden and wild greens (onions, dill, parsley, spinach, lettuce, etc.) in the diet of children. It is necessary to use food rich in fiber (bread, vegetables). Butter, milk, sugar, bread, vegetables, cereals are included in the menu daily, cottage cheese, cheese, sour cream, fish, meat, eggs may not be consumed every day; one day a week can be vegetarian, but always with the use of foods containing a sufficient amount of animal protein (eg eggs). In the nutrition of children under 1.5 years old, the use of confectionery products is limited; in the future, it is desirable to use jam, marmalade, jam, dry cookies in the form of sweets. Chocolate products can be given to children only from 2-3 years of age. Vegetable oil should be 10-15% of the total fat. Children over 2 years old can be allowed to use fresh boiled sausage, sausages, low-fat ham in their diet in limited quantities; children of the same age can receive cheese, caviar, soaked herring. Fats are rich in butter, cream, milk. Canned food, pickles, smoked meats should not be given to young children, while for older children they are acceptable in limited quantities. The need for vitamins should be met at the expense of food; in spring, when the content of vitamins in fruits and vegetables decreases, synthetic preparations of vitamin C are prescribed - from 50 to 100 mg per day. It is very useful to include yeast in the diet of children, which contains valuable proteins, B vitamins and phosphorus. The main source of vitamin D is fish oil, as well as milk, animal liver, and eggs. Children receive minerals from animal and vegetable products. An important point is the culinary processing, which gives the food a taste, smell, appearance. Up to 1.5 years, children should receive steamed meat products, vegetables in the form of mashed potatoes; from 2 years old, vegetables can be finely chopped, meat from 3 years old can be stewed, fried in small pieces, etc. At an older age, nutrition is differentiated not so much in the form of cooking, but in the volume of servings. The menu for school-age children (7-15 years old) differs from the adult menu only in the amount of one-time and daily meals.

Rational baby food includes the right diet. Up to 1.5 years old, a child can be fed 5, then 4 times a day. Meals during the day should be distributed as follows: breakfast 20-25%, afternoon snack 15%, lunch 35-40%, dinner 30-25% of the daily diet. The correct use of water in the child's diet is important: 1st year of life -100-150 ml per 1 kg of weight, 1-3 years -100 ml, 3-7 years -60 ml, older children -50 ml per day per 1 kg masses. To improve the nutrition of children, especially in winter and spring, when the supply of fresh fruits and vegetables is reduced, the food industry of the USSR produces vegetable and fruit juices, canned food, purees, quick-frozen vegetables and fruits, milk powder, ready-made mixtures in the children's assortment. The production technology of these products ensures the preservation of important nutrients that make up their raw materials, including vitamins.

Approximate daily food sets (in g) for children 1-15 years old (compiled by the Institute of Nutrition of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR)

Name	Age groups
1-1.5 years	1.5-3 years	1.5-3 years	5-7 years old	7-12 years old	12-15 years old
wheat bread	40	100	125	150	200
rye	10	30	50	75	125
potato flour	5	5	5	5	5
wheat	5	10	15	25	35
Cereals, pasta, legumes	25	40	45	65	80
Potato	100	200	200	300	400
Vegetables are different	100	200	200	300	400
Fresh fruits	100	100	100	100	100
Dry fruits and cranberries	10	20	20	20	20
Sweets	10	10	10	15	15
Sugar	60	60	60	60	60
Tea	0,2	0,2	0,2	0,2	0,2
Coffee	—	2	3	3	3
Cocoa	—	0,5	0,5	1	1
Meat	55	75	95	120	175
Fish	5	20	50	50	75
Eggs	1/4 pc.	1/2pcs	1/2 piece	1 PC.	1 PC.
Butter	15	25	30	40	50
vegetable	—	5	5	8	10
Milk	700	600	550	500	500
Cottage cheese	35	45	45	45	50
Cream	10	—	—	—	—
Sour cream	—	10	10	15	20
Cheese	3	5	8	10	15
Salt	3	6-7	8	10	10

For baby food in the modern food industry are used:

1. Antioxidants (antioxidants, oxidation inhibitors)- substances that slow down the oxidation of food products, thus protecting fats and fat-containing products from rancidity, protecting fruits, vegetables and their processed products from darkening, slowing down enzymatic oxidation. Applications: baby food, etc.
2. Filtration aids (clarifiers, adsorbents, flocculants)- inert insoluble substances that increase the efficiency of filtration, i.e. facilitate and improve the separation of solid particles from liquids or gases during filtration, accelerate and make it possible to remove undesirable cloudy components from liquids, mainly from drinks, which must remain transparent for a long time. Fields of application : baby food, etc.
3. Moisture-retaining agents- hygroscopic substances that regulate the activity of water (aw) in food products and thus protect them from drying and undesirable changes in structure and texture caused by it (most often, staleness). Applications: baby food, etc.
4. Gelling agents (gelling agents, gelling agents) Substances capable of forming gels under certain conditions. Applications: baby food, etc.
5. Thickeners- These are substances that increase the viscosity of food products, thickening them. Applications: baby food, etc.
6. Hydrolysis and inversion catalysts- substances that catalyze the breakdown of proteins, starches and sucrose. Applications: baby food, etc.
7. preservatives- substances that inhibit the development of microorganisms. Applications: baby food, etc.
8. Dyes- substances that restore the natural color lost during processing and storage, increase the intensity of natural color, color colorless products. Applications: baby food, etc.
9. Carriers, solvents or diluents- substances that make it easier, safer and more effective to add prescription components to the product, as well as protecting and stabilizing these components. Applications: baby food, etc.
10. Dehumidifiers- substances that remove moisture from gases, liquids and solids in closed containers - . Applications: baby food, etc.
11. Acidifiers (acids) Substances that cause the sour taste of food. Applications: baby food, etc.
12. Acidity regulators- substances that establish and maintain a certain pH value in the food product. Applications: baby food, etc.
13. Means for encapsulation- substances capable of forming an enveloping layer in the form of capsules or microcapsules on the surface of food components, thereby increasing the shelf life of the latter. Applications: baby food, etc.
14. Seals- substances that improve the structure and appearance of processed foods, mainly fruits and vegetables, by compacting their tissues. Applications: baby food, etc.
15. Emulsifiers- These are substances that make it possible or facilitate the production of emulsions and stabilizing them. Applications: baby food, etc.

Nutritional supplements:

Code	Name	Functions	Permission	Application	Negative effect on the body	Note
E170	Calcium carbonate salts	Surface color (inorganic pigment), release agent, anti-caking agent, yeast nutrition, acidity regulator	Allowed in Russia	Codex: Approved as an acidity regulator in canned baby food and cereal mixes for children GMP
E260	Acetic acid	Acidity regulator, acidifier, preservative, hydrolysis and inversion catalyst	Allowed in Russia	Codex: allowed in canned baby food, GMP
E270	Lactic acid, L-, D- and DL-	Acidity regulator, oxidizing agent, preservative, hydrolysis and inversion catalyst	Allowed in Russia	Codex: allowed as an acidity regulator in complementary foods for children of the first year of life GMP; canned baby food up to 2 g/kg	Dangerous for children
E304	Ascorbyl palmitate	Antioxidant, color stabilizer, emulsifier, solvent	Allowed in Russia	Codex: Allowed alone or mixed with ascorbyl stearate. In baby food products up to 10 mg per 1000 ml of the finished drink
E322	Lecithins, phosphotides	mulsifiers, stabilizers, antioxidants, antioxidant synergists, water-retaining agents, baking improvers	allowed in Russia	Codex: allowed as emulsifiers in baby food	Causes diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver
E410	Locust bean gum	Thickener, stabilizer, weak gelling agent, encapsulating agent	Allowed in Russia	Codex: allowed alone or in combination with other thickeners and stabilizers in canned baby food up to 2 g/kg; complementary foods for infants up to 1 g/kg
E412	Guar gum	Thickener, stabilizer, encapsulating agent	Allowed in Russia	codex: allowed alone or in combination with other stabilizers in baby food up to 1 g/kg
E440	Pectins	Gelling agents, stabilizers, thickeners, humectants, clarifiers, filter aids, encapsulation agents	allowed in Russia	Canned baby food up to 10 g/kg (non-amidated pectin only)
E526	calcium hydroxide	Acidity regulator, hardener	Allowed in Russia	Codex: approved for GMP baby food
E1411	Distarchglycerin "cross-linked"		Allowed in Russia	Codex: Distarchglycerin is allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches
E1412	Distarch phosphate esterified with trisodium metaphosphate; esterified with phosphorus oxychloride		Allowed in Russia	Codex: distarch phosphate is allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg; nutrition of children under one year up to 5 or 25 g/kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches
E1413	Phosphated distarch phosphate "cross-linked"	Thickener, gelling agent, stabilizer, encapsulating agent, coating, carrier, baking improver	Allowed in Russia	Codex: Phosphated distarch phosphate is allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg; nutrition of children under one year up to 5 or 25 g/kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches
E1414	Acetylated distarch phosphate "cross-linked"		Allowed in Russia	Codex: acetylated distarch phosphate is allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg; nutrition of children up to a year up to 5 or 25 g / kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches. EU: allowed in food products QS, in the nutrition of children under one year old in an amount up to 5%
E1422	Acetylated distarch adipate	Thickener, gelling agent, encapsulating agent, coating, carrier	Allowed in Russia	Codex: Acetylated distarch adipate is allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches
E1423	Distarchglycerin acetylated	Thickener, stabilizer, encapsulating agent, coating	Allowed in Russia	Codex: allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches
E1440	Starch hydroxypropylated	Thickener, Stabilizer, Encapsulation Agent, Coating, Carrier	Allowed in Russia	Codex: hydroxypropylated starch is allowed in canned baby food up to 60 g/kg; nutrition of children under one year up to 5 or 25 g/kg alone or in combination with other thickeners, gelling agents or starches

1. potassium nitrate E252 - preservative, color fixative;
2. potassium lactate E326 (D-lactate) - acidity regulator, salt substitute, antioxidant synergist, emulsifying salt, water-retaining agent;
3. calcium lactate E327 (D-lactate) - acidity regulator, salt substitute, antioxidant synergist, emulsifying salt, water-retaining agent, hardener, yeast nutrition;
4. ammonium lactate E328 (D-lactate) - acidity regulator, salt substitute, antioxidant synergist, emulsifying salt;
5. magnesium lactate D, L E329 (D-lactate) - acidity regulator, salt substitute, antioxidant synergist, emulsifying salt, plant tissue thickener;
6. ammonium malates E349 - acidity regulators;
7. potassium malates E351 - acidity regulator;
8. calcium malates E352 - acidity regulator, sealers (plant tissues).

Starch additives that are excluded from baby food starches:

1. sodium sulfite E221 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer;
2. sodium hydrosulfite E222 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer;
3. sodium pyrosulfite E223 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer;
4. potassium pyrosulfite E224 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer;
5. potassium sulfite E225 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer;
6. calcium sulfite E226 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer, sealant (plant tissues);
7. calcium hydrosulfite E227 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer, sealant (plant tissues);
8. potassium bisulfite E228 - preservative, antioxidant, bleach, color stabilizer.

A source of information

1. "Encyclopedia. Nutritional supplements." L.A. Sarafanov;
2. "Great Soviet Encyclopedia";
3. "Dangerous food E-additives" Yu.A. Serov.