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Safety and Quality Challenges of Food Formulas and the Responsibility of Governments in Compensating for Micronutrient Deficiencies in Adequate and Healthy Nutrition for Children
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Reza Karimi *1    , Dorsa Hosseinzadeh2 |
1- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
2- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran. |
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Abstract: (106 Views) |
Background and Aim: The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recognizes that all children up to the age of 18 have inalienable rights that are inherent in their human dignity, including the right to access safe food and adequate nutrition, the right to be free from discrimination and the right to have their best interests taken into account in all matters affecting them. Realizing children’s right to adequate nutrition does not necessarily mean creating new programs, but rather ensuring that they receive the nutrition services to which they are entitled. Malnutrition, in all its forms, violates children’s rights, including stunting, wasting, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity and the lack of control over the quality and safety of children’s food. Child malnutrition is associated with other social determinants of health, such as economic instability and poor access to health care and other social protection. Fortification of essential nutrients in children’s and adults’ diets with iodine, vitamins and iron has been implemented by governments for decades. Fortification at the agricultural and industrial levels can help compensate for the lack of micronutrients in children's diets. The production of powdered milk similar to breast milk and the quality and safety control of baby food, including the control of the dosage of toxins and contaminants, are the most fundamental nutritional concerns for children.
Methods: The study method was a traditional review and the Google Scholar search engine was used to search for keywords. The studies were searched from the scientific databases "ScienceDirect", "Scopus" and "PubMed" with the keywords "micronutrient deficiency", "malnutrition" and "food formulation" and supplemented with documentary reports from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
Ethical Considerations: In the present study, the ethical aspects of library research, including originality of texts, honesty and trustworthiness, were observed.
Results: Findings show that children are more susceptible to food insecurity due to their underdeveloped digestive and immune systems. In this context, it is the responsibility of governments to provide critical data for nutrition surveillance, maping insecure areas and accurately target vulnerable groups through informed policy. Additionally, children's meals should be as diverse as possible and not based on only one food group (e.g. rice) so that the dose of toxic elements does not exceed the standard level. It is important to provide education to parents and children on how to limit products with potential health risks and promote appropriate cooking techniques that minimize negative health effects.
Conclusion: Malnutrition is a phenomenon that is often perceived as a consequence of the lack of protection of basic human rights due to inadequate actions and accountability of governments. Rights-based approaches to improving children's food environment and adequate and healthy nutrition are crucial to ensure equitable access to nutritious meals for marginalized and vulnerable populations who are disproportionately affected by malnutrition. Dietary diversity in children can indirectly contribute to reducing the risk of exposure to contaminants and nutrient deficiencies and children’s meals should be as varied as possible. It seems important to educate parents and children on how to limit products that pose potential health risks and to promote appropriate cooking and preparation techniques that minimize negative health effects. When the concept of "rights" is introduced into policymaking, the rationale for regulating unhealthy food environments no longer stems solely from the premise that children have basic needs, but rather from the fact that they have "absolute rights". Rights-based policymaking highlights the commitment of governments to respect, protect and fulfill these rights for all children and provides new and powerful arguments to overcome attempts to delay, divert and divide policymaking. |
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| Keywords: baby food, safety, quality, micronutrients, food security, malnutrition |
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Full-Text [PDF 672 kb]
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Type of Study: Original Article |
Received: 2025/07/21 | Accepted: 2025/09/11 | Published: 2025/11/4
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