The distinction among components primarily based weight loss plan and herbal food is that a herbal meals is the choice made via dad and mom based on conventional expertise. however in a components based meals it's far the market that comes to a decision how and what the toddler must be fed. client VOiCE tested 10 popular in addition to everyday promoting manufacturers of toddler food

Infant Formula Vs Baby Food 

mother's milk nurtures obviously, not like the infant formulas which offers

the parents choice and convenience; and lets in the mom to leave the 'feeding' at regulator intervals to someone else. determine (consumers) have the choice of feeding and plumping up the toddler proper

from its beginning. you have got the milk substitutes, in case the mother is unable to feed because of some motives.

and you've got a wide range of substitutes for natural

food that encompass cereals, pulses, veggies and culmination that can be fed according to the boom duration of the child.

 

 

 

Key Findings

• typical all examined brands of infant foods are safe to offer to toddlers.

• Farex executed pinnacle accompanied by means of Dexolac in comply with-up formulation – complementary meals. Zerolac in infant Milk Substitutes and Easum in Processed cereal based totally complementary meals additionally executed well. Cerelac changed into the handiest variation on this category showing up as very

 

Weaning

The distinction between system based eating regimen and herbal food is that a herbal meals is the choice made by using mother and father based on traditional expertise. however in a components based food it is the marketplace that comes to a decision how and what the infant need to be fed. client VOiCE examined 10 famous as well as normal selling manufacturers of baby ingredients.

 

• Easum was located least suited in its flavour. Dexolac become least tasty amongst all the brands.

• Easum (11.54g/100g) and Nestum (8.57g/100g) had been unable to meet the minimal requirement for overall protein content.

• Tin content material (6.88mg/kg) of Nestum became observed past the most permissible limit.

• Lactogen changed into observed maximum suited in sensory tests.

• all the manufacturers have been well filled with good enough data on their label with all essential commands.

 

 

Adulteration and standards

infant foods are very touchy food product available in market. since these update mom’s milk or add directly to the eating regimen of little one for his/her proper increase, these merchandise are vital to satisfy the desired quality and protection requirements. In latest past many cases of adulteration were pronounced, for instance adulteration of Melamine in little one foods in China. In context of this customer VOICE tested numerous brands of little one ingredients of different classes being bought in Indian markets to choose their overall quality from protection, nice and organoleptic point of view. We had blanketed the categories of toddler foods named comply with-up system

– Complementary foods, little one

Milk Substitutes, Processed Cereal primarily based Complementary foods, Milk- Cereal based Complementary ingredients in our look at. The check programme of infant ingredients become in simple terms based on the associated Indian standards IS 15757:2007, IS 14433:2007, IS

11536:2007 and IS 1656:2007.

What we tested?

We taken into consideration toddler meals for babies from the age of 6 months and onwards. the principle parameters

for which one-of-a-kind manufacturers of little one food was examined were, Protein, fat, Carbohydrate, nutrients, Minerals, Organoleptic houses and Micro- biological necessities. due to the fact that little one ingredients replace the mom milk, those are anticipated to be wealthy in protein, fats and micronutrients like vitamins and minerals. almost all of the manufacturers of different classes examined have been discovered to be aligning with the requirements prescribed in Indian requirements. but in Processed cereal based complementary meals class each Easum and Nestum did not meet the requirement for protein content material. this is the handiest flaw we observed in our look at.

 

Organoleptic residences of the toddler meals also play an crucial role inside the recognition of specific product.

Sensory exams

We carried out sensory assessments for coloration, appearance, flavour/odour, taste and after taste sense to observe the organolaptic houses of these infant foods, because a new born toddler also react to these properties of meals which rely for its popularity. Lactogen was discovered maximum appropriate in Sensory checks. Easum changed into located least suitable in its flavour. Dexolac turned into least tasty among all of the brands. normal all tested brands of infant foods are safe to provide to babies.

Breast feeding universally encouraged

Breast feeding is universally regarded as the most appropriate shape of nourishing the little one. however, when breast feeding is not possible, reliance needs to be located upon alternate sources of nutrients for little one feeding. it's far imperative that infant milk substitutes need to be nicely formulated in order that nutritional necessities for most appropriate boom are met adequately, and this is minimal of physiological stress

 

at the growing organs and enzymatic device of the toddler. it's miles equally important to sell correct feeding practices, so that suitable use of the infant milk substitute may be made for shielding the health of the infant.

Packaging of baby foods

child meals have to be packed in hermetically sealed, smooth and sound bins or in a bendy percent made from movie or mixture of any of the substrates made of bo- ard paper, polyethylene, polyester, metallised films or Aluminium foil so one can protect it from deterioration. In case plastic fabric is used for bendy packaging, best food grade plastic shall be used.

It will be packed in quantities as stipulated under Rule 5 and ‘the second one schedule’ of the requirements of the felony method (Packaged Commodities) Rule 2011 as well as according with requirement under meals protection & popular

 

Act,2006.

all the tested manufacturers of 4 categories of infant foods were definitely packed and adequately sealed. The packing fabric ranged from tins to pouches in paper board packing containers.

Easum and Nestum no longer BIS marked

All brands of child food have been labelled thoroughly with required statistics. All examined brands, across the 4 classes met the BIS requirements. Easum and Nestum of processed cereal based totally complementary foods class were now not marked with ISI mark although it is obligatory.

some manufacturers have been underweight

all the brands had been located with right amount. Farex, Nan and Easum were determined slightly under weight but underneath permissible limits.

toddler meals freed from starch

 

Starch is a polysaccharide carbohydrate. As an additive for food processing, food starches are commonly used as thickeners and stabilizers in food merchandise. As in line with the Indian standards, it must be absent in infant meals. Our check discovered all of the manufacturers to be starch loose.

All infant food contained minerals as in keeping with the requirements

A mineral is a evidently happening solid chemical substance formed via biogeochemical procedures, having character- istic chemical composition, notably ordered atomic shape, and particular physical properties. We examined unique categories of baby meals for the minerals named Iron, Calcium, Phosphorous, Iodine, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Zinc & Selenium. all the manufacturers of infant meals met the necessities prescribed in Indian requirements.

infant components elements vitamins

A diet is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny quantities with the aid of an organism. We tested all categories of baby meals for the vitamins named nutrition A, vitamin D, Thiamine, Niacin, Riboflavin, nutrition B6, nutrition B12, Folic Acid, Panthothenic Acid, Biotin, nutrition C, nutrition k, Nicotinic Acid & diet E. all the manufacturers met the necessities prescribed in Indian standard for vitamin content material.

overall Protein

Protein is an important nutrient in diet. They play an important role within the cell upkeep, increase, and functioning of the human frame. As in line with the Indian requirements, Protein in observe-up

components – Complementary ingredients have to be among the variety of

13.5 to 24.7 g/100g. In little one Milk Substitutes, it need to not be much less than 12g/100g. within the Processed Cereal based Complementary meals, it ought to be minimal 15g/100g and in Milk-Cereal based totally Complementary ingredients, It need to not be much less than 12 g/100g. besides Easum (11.54) and Nestum (eight.fifty seven) all the manufacturers met the requirement for protein in toddler ingredients.

Milk/total fats

fat factor provides richness of flavour, contributes to a smooth texture. As in line with the requirements, it have to be inside the range of between

18.0 to 27.7 g/100g in comply with-up system – Complementary ingredients. In infant Milk Substitutes, it must not be much less than 18g/100g and in Milk- Cereal based Complementary foods it should not be much less than 7.5 g/100g. all of the brands we examined have met the minimum requirement prescribed in Indian standards.

Solubility

Solubility is the property of a stable substance in liquid to form a homogeneous solution of the solute inside the solvent. As consistent with the Indian

 

popular, Solubility percentage of comply with-up system – Complementary foods & infant Milk Substitutes must be minimal ninety eight.five% by using mass.

all the manufacturers we examined met the requirement for solubility.

total Carbohydrate

Carbohydrate is the source of strength. The requirement for carbohydrate content material is only for the class of Processed Cereal based totally Complementary ingredients & Milk-Cereal based Complementary meals. As in line with the standard, it have to now not be much less than 55g/100g. all the brands met the minimum requirement. Nestum (85.29) from processed cereal primarily based complementary foods become determined with better carbohydrate content, however Cerelac (sixty seven.89) changed into observed with lower carbohydrate content material.

 

Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is a kind of toxin or poison produced by using the mould Aspergillus flavus. while animals or people consume those compounds, they'll produce intense unwanted fitness consequences. The requirement for Aflatoxin is most effective for the category of Processed Cereal based Complementary ingredients and it was now not detected, therefore examined manufacturers were given complete weightage.

Sensory tests

this is very vital parameter wherein subjective Panel assessments have been carried out based totally on their critical examination and opinion due to the fact that client could be very vital on choice of product from retail shops that makes that emblem most proper/least suited in respect of fee. During this take a look at, we decide the overall organoleptic (sensory) satisfactory of the product in term of consumption. We carried out the sensory exams in opposition to color & look, odour/flavour, taste and after flavor sense. those exams have been carried out within the lab regarding panel contributors below the supervision of educated experts. within the class observe-up system – Complementary ingredients, Lactogen changed into the pleasant among all. In little one Milk Substitutes, Amul Spray performed well and inside the category of Processed Cereal based totally Complementary foods, Nestum came on pinnacle.

Microbiological exams

Microbiological infection is a completely critical difficulty for food merchandise. Microorganisms are chargeable for many meals borne disease. We carried out this test for Bacterial count number, Coliform count number, Staphylococcus aurous, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli and Teast & mould. The complete variety of microorganisms we examined had been located either absent or in the permissible restriction.

COMPARATIVE TEST PERFORMACE SCORE OF INFANT (BABY) FOODS

 

Brand     Parameter	Wt. %*				(A) Follow-up Formula - Complementary Foods					(B) Infant Milk Substitutes		(C) Processed Cereal Based Complementary Foods		(D) Milk-Cereal Based Complementary Foods
	(A)	(B)	(C)	(D)	Farex	Dexolac	Nan	Lactogen	Lactodex	Zerolac	Amul Spray	Easum	Nestum	Cerelac
Pack Size, gm					500	500	450	475	500	400	500	400	375	375
MRP in `					249	279	287	227	215	213	132	157	101	133
ysico-chemical Tests
Milk/Total Protein	12	10	10	12	9.97	10.03	8.26	8.89	9.91	6.89	10	6.15	4.6	9.57
Milk/Total Fat	8	6	NA	6	6.73	5.84	6.75	6.48	6.78	6	4.27	NA	NA	5.96
Total Carbohydrate	NA	NA	15	7	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	14.98	15	5.6
Linoleate	2	NA	NA	NA	1.36	2	1.36	1.26	1	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Dietary Fibre	NA	NA	NA	3	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	2.84
Solubility	2	3	NA	NA	1.75	1.74	1.78	1.48	2	2.31	1.89	NA	NA	NA
Crude Fibre	NA	NA	3	3	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	2.94	2.91	2.94
Starch	2	1	NA	NA	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	NA	NA	NA
Scorched Particle	2	2	NA	NA	1.67	1.67	1.67	1.67	1.67	1.67	1.67	NA	NA	NA
Moisture	2	2	2	2	2	1.77	1.81	1.66	1.93	1.82	1.83	2	1.29	1.75
Total Ash	2	1	2	2	1.96	1.92	1.95	1.88	1.84	1	0.82	2	1.91	1.67
Acid insoluble Ash	2	1	2	2	1.85	1.71	2	1.57	1.85	0.78	0.92	1.71	1.71	1.42
Aflatoxin	NA	NA	3	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA	3	3	NA
Net Weight	2	2	2	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	1.98	2	3
Vitamins	15.6	24	14	16	13.88	13.55	11.85	11.16	10.65	22.1	17.15	11.53	10.8	13.53
Minerals	14.4	16	6	2	11.69	11.67	11.63	11.77	11.53	12.36	13.69	5.32	4.73	1.81
Heavy Metals	6	6	10	8	5.94	5.8	5.98	5.97	5.8	5.89	5.98	9.39	8.36	8
Microbiological Tests	10	10	10	10	8.78	9.64	9.63	9.81	8.78	9.87	9.83	9.92	9.57	9.61
Sensory Tests	12	10	15	16	9.04	6.98	9.38	9.57	8.84	6.07	6.44	8.62	9.55	10.43
General Parameters
Packing	2	2	2	3	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	3
Marking	4	4	4	5	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	5
Overall Score	100				86.62	84.32	84.05	83.17	82.58	85.76	83.49	85.54	81.43	56.13