Dietary laws in Europe have an impact on national dietary standards for children. The German Dietary Scheme update for the first year of life is being used to investigate the translation of European nutritional recommendations into food-based guidelines while retaining traditional practices. Within the Dietary Scheme, calorie and nutrient intake throughout the complementary feeding time for each of the three daily recommended complementary meals, in addition to the daily liquid-milk servings, was estimated. Complementary meals prepared from pureed home-cooked ingredients were assumed. The adequacy of nutrient intake was assessed by comparing it to the Dietary Reference Values of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The meal’s macronutrient composition was compared to the European supplementary food directive. The scheme’s daily consumption of most nutrients was largely in accordance with EFSA standards, however the widely regarded as “essential” elements iron and iodine remained significantly below EFSA levels. Substituting breast milk or whole cow’s milk for follow-on formula showed no effect on nutritional delivery. Although the nutritional profiles of the meals were not entirely in accordance with European requirements, they added up to a well-balanced daily diet.

Taken collectively, the modular system of the Dietary Scheme as a complete diet concept for newborn nutrition in Germany may meet the majority of European dietary reference values for energy and nutrients. The various planned meals usually comply with EU supplementary food rules.

Reference: https://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Abstract/2020/10000/Translation_of_EU_Food_Law_and_Nutrient_Reference.28.aspx

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