In order to ensure the food safety and nutrition health of children and respond to social concerns, entrusted by the Food Department under the National Health Commission, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (hereinafter referred to as the "CFSA") held a symposium on the management of "Children's Food" in Beijing. The symposium was held online and offline. A total of more than 40 persons attended the symposium including the representatives of National People's Congress, members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Office of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under State Council, the Food Department under the National Health Commission, the relevant departments under the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Consumer Products Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, members of the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee, experts and scholars and industry organization representatives. Experts and scholars and representatives of various departments and industries participating in the symposium introduced their own measures in regulating the management of "children's food" and made suggestions, respectively.

After discussion, the symposium reached the following consensus: First, China's current national food safety standard system has covered the safety and nutritional requirements for "foods claimed to be suitable for children's consumption", which can ensure the safety of children's consumption. Second, most of the "foods claimed to be suitable for children's consumption" on the market have no obvious differences in food ingredients and nutritional components from other general foods, which are corporate marketing methods. Industry self-discipline and market supervision should be strengthened to prevent inappropriate marketing. Third, strengthen risk communication and popular science work, carry out food education for parents and minors, guide consumers to correctly understand food information through food labels and nutrition labels, and scientifically understand "children's food". Fourth, strengthen basic research, and carry out the formulation of relevant nutrition guidelines and standards on the basis of science.

The National Health Commission pointed out that various departments and all parties in the society attach great importance to the health of children and adolescents and the management of "foods claimed to be suitable for children's consumption". The safety and nutrition health of this type of food involve many parties and requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society. Relevant departments should strengthen communication, jointly study and solve the problems existing in the management of this type of food, and promote the high-quality development of the food industry.

Source: CFSA

Note: This article is compiled by Antion, please indicate our source if reprint it.