Baby food processing equipment for infant cereals

Whole grain vs. refined cereals

There is an ongoing debate on the use of whole grain versus refined cereals for infant food. The key difference between whole grain and refined cereals is the amount of grain’s anatomical components. Whole grains consist of an endosperm, a bran and a germ, while refined cereals consist only of the endosperm. The bran and the germ contain the most fibers, vitamins and minerals of the grain, which means that whole grain cereals have a higher nutritional value than refined cereals. On the other hand, whole grains have more contaminants than refined cereals.

Even though the study suggests that whole grain is more beneficial compared to the refined cereals, baby food manufacturers face the challenge of removing dangerous contaminants such as heavy metals and mycotoxins (toxic chemical products produced by fungi) and arsenic in whole grain rice from whole grain products. Moreover, other issues such as consumer confusion regarding labeling practices and lack of policies on whole wheat intake for infants also have to be resolved by policy makers, researchers and manufacturers.

Baby food regulations and standards

There are some important regulations and international standards set for baby food that you should be aware of. The EU has rigid regulations for pesticide residue, explained in the Commission Directive 2006/125/EC on infant cereals. It prohibits the use of some extremely toxic pesticides like fentin, nitrofen and disulfoton. Moreover, manufacturers of baby food have to comply with the EU laws on hygiene, contamination, the use of food additives and the materials used in the manufacturing process. The directive also sets down rules for labeling – the label includes the energy and nutritional value of the products.

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration has stringent rules under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) on toxic elements like arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead in baby cereals and other baby foods. The Act also includes regulations on food allergen controls and sanitation controls. The product’s label must always include nutrition information and serving sizes.