Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has received an application from Nestlé to lower the minimum protein requirements for milk-based follow-on formula from 0.45g to 0.38g per 100kJ.
The application came specifically from Nestlé Australia and Nestlé New Zealand. The company is supporting its claim by referring to the protein levels found in human breastmilk, which are lower in the first 6-12 months of infancy.
In a statement, FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said, "FSANZ carried out an assessment of the evidence concluding that the lower minimum protein requirement was appropriate and safe for infants aged six to twelve months." The new guidelines would match those set by the European Commission in 2018 after an investigation by the European Food Safety Authority.
