Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by First Steps Nutrition Trust

The Food Foundation @foodfoundation.bsky.social · 1d

📢 Is the government doing enough to improve the food system?

As the dust settles on party conferences we examine the evidence using 5️⃣ key markers.

Find out here: ➡️ bit.ly/4oeLHX4
@labouruk.bsky.social

1 3 4

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

Amazing analysis. Thank you. Some progress is encouraging but we can’t lose sight of blind spots. While there have been some commitments on food and feeding in the early years there’s still a way to go. #BabyBlindSpot

1 2

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

For more on this topic, head to our latest newsletter to read our full summary and the policy recommendations in full:

www.firststepsnutrition.org/news#Uniceff...

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

Our advocacy and policy-influencing work in the UK aligns with several of the recommendations in the report. Part of our mission is to influence policies which enable the safe, appropriate and optimal feeding of infants and young children in the UK, and to protect them from commercial interest.

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

...restrictions to transform food environments and increase the availability and affordability of locally produced and nutritious foods for children. It highlights the need to establish safeguarding practices so that public policy processes are protected from influence from the UPF industry.

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

It makes 8 recommendations that are needed to tackle this problem, including implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes to protect and promote breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding, implementing comprehensive and mandatory measures, such as marketing...

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

Key drivers of unhealthy food environments are identified as inexpensive UPFs flooding retail markets and schools, high exposure of marketing of UPFs to children, unethical practices of manufacturers which exploit children & inadequate legal measures/policies to protect children’s food environments.

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

This same pattern is seen in the UK:

▶️ among school-aged children (5-19 years), as of 2022, modelled estimates for underweight in the UK are reported to be 2% while overweight is 30%. This compares to global averages of 10% for underweight and 20% for overweight.

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 1d

❗️ICYMI: On 10 September 2025, UNICEF published its Child Nutrition Report 2025, Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children

For the first time ever, among school-aged children and adolescents globally, overweight has exceeded underweight as the dominant form of malnutrition.

1 2 3

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 3d

Sign up for our newsletter if you haven’t already, and read August’s edition via the link in our bio 👏 linktr.ee/firststepsnutrition

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 3d

🍐 We have written a new update on cold water sterilisation. After liaising with the relevant organisations, it is recommended that baby feeding equipment be rinsed with cooled, boiled water following cold water sterilisation

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 3d

🍐 We created two new infographics to assist healthcare workers with ‘What plant-based drinks are suitable for young children?’ and an adaptation of our FAQ on ‘Can food insecure women breastfeed?’

1 1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 3d

🍐 The DHSC published its long-awaited Voluntary Commercial Baby Food Guidelines for baby food and drinks. A reminder that the NHS now makes it clear that families should not rely solely on shop-bought baby foods, as home-prepared foods are often healthier and more affordable.

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 3d

🍐 A lot of new research has been published, including some on UPF diets, household food insecurity, complementary feeding, baby food pouches, commercial baby food labelling, eating well during pregnancy, formula marketing, and brand label recognition. Read the summaries in the newsletter!

1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 3d

📰Want to keep up to date with the latest UK news and research about infant and child feeding?

Our latest newsletter was published last week, here are the highlights ➡️

1 1

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

For more recipes and information, download our FREE eating well resources, including a specific guide for vegan infants aged 1 to under 5, here: www.firststepsnutrition.org/eating-well-...

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

Unfortified or sweetened (with added sugars, free sugars or non-sugar sweeteners) plant-based drinks are not an acceptable alternative to cows’ milk - this includes any organic plant drink as these products are not fortified.

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

Whole or semi-skimmed cows’ milk is preferable to plant-based drinks for children aged 1 to 5 years who consume animal products. Fortified & unsweetened (without added sugars, free sugars/non-sugar sweeteners) soya, oat and almond drinks are an acceptable alternative to cows’ milk.

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

Vitamin B12 is almost exclusively found in animal products and vegan children will require either a supplement or fortified foods (such as unsweetened fortified milk alternatives). Other important nutrients for vegan children include plenty of iron, calcium, iodine, riboflavin, and Omega-3 fats.

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

Protein sources offered should be varied, such as different peas, beans, lentils, tofu, soya beans, yoghurt or unsweetened plain soya yoghurt, eggs, and nut/seed butters.

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

In the UK, where food is plentiful and there is a wide range of options available to ensure a complete diet, infants and children can get all the nutrition they need from a vegetarian or plant-based diet alongside appropriate supplements, but it does take thought and planning.

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

A wide variety of vegetables should be offered to help develop children’s long-term food preferences, and offering vegetarian dishes can help to increase vegetable consumption.

Here are some tips for Vegetarian and Vegan infants and children:

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 8d

Happy #WorldVegetarianWeek!

Did you know that all our eating well resources for young children contain #vegetarian recipes? Whether vegetarian, vegan, or not, it is recommended that infants and children eat a wide variety of minimally processed foods.

2

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 28d

For more information on plant-based diets for young children, see our eating well guide for vegans firststepsnutrition.company.site/Eating-Well-...

First Steps Nutrition Trust @1stepsnutrition.bsky.social · 28d

🍐 Young children should ideally be breastfed into the second year of life or beyond

Links in bio or: linktr.ee/admin/links

For healthcare professionals, see our infographic on plant-based milks for young children: www.firststepsnutrition.org/infographics

1