Making sense of the stages on baby food labels (compreendendo as etapas nos rótulos dos alimentos para bebês)
Mauricio Barufaldi
Professor de gastronomia; Gastronomy mentoring; Culinary educator; Cookbook author; Professional food suppliers; Chef executivo de cozinha
Mandatory nutritional labeling (RNO) is a condition that some states enforce compulsorily for the presentation of nutritional information on food labels.
Usually, the amounts of calories, calories from fat, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, sugars, proteins, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron are reported.
The purpose of food labeling is to facilitate the choice of healthy foods based on the information contained on the packaging.
In Brazil, the RNO of foods is regulated by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), by legislation harmonized in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) whose main objectives are to promote healthy eating for the consumer and guarantee product quality.
Labeling has been mandatory since 2001. It is part of the National Food Policy to reduce rates of overweight, obesity and chronic degenerative diseases associated with the population's eating habits, regulated by ANVISA.
Member countries of the European Union, such as Portugal, must follow the legislation that exists within the European Union.
In Brazil, this happened in 1998 and in the United Kingdom in 1996. In both Brazil and European countries, there is recognition of the relationship between food labels and health.
The Ministries of Health were involved in the drafting of such laws.
Regarding the comparison between the European Union and Brazil, the laws are consensual with regard to nutritional description, both requiring the following as a minimum description: calories, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and fibers.
There is also similarity in the laws related to nutritional advertising.
In Canada, the standardized label with nutritional information was introduced as part of the regulations approved in 2003 and became mandatory for most pre-packaged food products on December 12, 2005.
In the United States, the regulation of supplements is done by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The only micronutrients that must be included on all labels are vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron, and there is a requirement that ingredients be listed in descending order of quantity.
Making sense of the stages on baby food labels
Learn how to interpret baby food stages, and what ages they coincide with, so you know exactly what type of baby food to buy at the grocery store.
Parents pay close attention to what types of baby food their kids eat, for good reason.
In the course of their research, or while browsing the aisles at the grocery store, they might encounter charts listing baby foods, how much of them a baby should eat at certain ages, and when you should introduce solids into your child's diet.
Most parents probably think it would be helpful if baby food products were clearly and consistently labeled so that they could quickly determine how an option aligns with their baby's needs.
Unfortunately brand labels differ in this regard.
This system can be confusing when using different baby food brands or combining homemade baby foods or baby-led weaning with commercial baby foods.
Keep scrolling to learn all about the different baby food stages are and at which ages to use them.
How Baby Food Stages Vary by Brand
The American Academy of Pediatrics does not specifically discuss stages or steps, when comes to buying and feeding your baby solids.
However, the organization does that, It is important for your baby to get used to the process of eating—sitting up, taking food from a spoon, resting between bites, and stopping when full.
These early experiences will help your child learn good eating habits throughout life.
Most popular brands that you can find at the grocery store work around four stages, which coincides with ages 4 to 6 months and go all the way to 12 months and up.
Here are some brands vary with baby food stages labeling:
These stages aren't standardized but generally follow a similar pattern.
Baby food stages aim to progressively advance the textures and flavors of food as your baby learns how to eat.
Research suggests exposing your baby to different textures and flavors is connected to language development and less picky eating later on.
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Baby Food Stage 1 (4 to 6 Months) Solids that you might first feed your baby at age 4 to 6 months include single-ingredient foods such as rice cereal or pureed fruits or vegetables.
Some examples of popular brands include:
The 7 Best Baby Cereals, According to a Pediatric Dietitian
Baby Food Stage 2 (7 to 8 Months)
When babies are 7 months to 8 months old, they can start eating the second stage of baby foods.
These include single-ingredient and combination foods that are strained?instead of pureed.
Examples of stage 2 foods include:
Baby Food Stage 3: (9 to 12 Months)
At 9 to 12 months old, babies should be ready for stage three baby foods.
These foods have?more texture and small chunks to encourage chewing.
Examples of stage 3 foods include:
These jars of baby food are easy to spot because they are usually contain a larger volume of a puree than the stage 1 and 2 varieties.
Babies tend to have a bigger appetite by the time they are ready for these foods.
Baby Food Stage 4 (After 12 Months)
Babies progress to stage four foods or table food (meals with lumps or chunks) anywhere from 8 to to 12 months.?
At this point, you may be feeding your baby the food that the rest of the family is eating, or you might continue to buy commercially prepared toddler foods.
Examples include:
What Age to Introduce Solid Foods
Typically babies are?ready to start eating solids?around 4 or 6 months, but this age range is just a suggestion, and will vary greatly from child to child.
Although labels on the first stage of baby food will typically read something like 4+ months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that babies should be introduced to solids at 6 months, and list the following as signs of?readiness for solid foods:
The baby should be able to first sit up.
Keep in mind that the age recommendations for when you start each stage are just general guidelines.
Some babies are ready for stage 2 foods before they are 7 to 8 months old, while others might not be ready for them until they are 9 to 10 months old.
Instead of starting each stage of baby food at the ages listed, it is usually more important that babies advance through the different stages in their own time, so be sure to pay close attention to your baby's cues and don't rush them to eat certain foods before they are ready.
A health care provider can also help determine what stage of baby food your child is ready to eat.
Also, be sure to talk to a health care provider if your child gets stuck in any one particular stage and can't handle or isn't interested in the next stage of foods.