Is ＂children’s food＂ really suitable for children？ More than 40% of parents are not at ease

　　Nowadays, many parents prefer products labeled "children’s food" when buying food for their children, thinking that they are more in line with their children’s physical development, and such products are often more expensive. In fact, for children over 3 years old, there is no special food safety standard in China, and many so-called "children’s foods" have the same ingredients as ordinary foods, and are not even suitable for children to eat.

　　Last week, the Social Investigation Center of China Youth Newspaper conducted a survey on 2003 parents of children interviewed, and it showed that 84.8% parents were more inclined to buy products with the words "children’s food" for their children. 45.0% of the parents surveyed are uneasy about the "children’s food" on the market. 74.6% parents want to establish a monitoring, detection and early warning mechanism for "children’s food".

　　Parents interviewed in first-tier cities are more inclined to buy "children’s food"

　　Li Ran (pseudonym) is from Guangdong, and her child is 5 years old this year. In Li Yanran’s view, some foods eaten by adults are not suitable for children, so she is very concerned about products marked with the words "children’s food". "60% of my children’s snacks are ‘ Children’s food ’ For example, noodles, cereal, milk, and even soy sauce are specially suitable for children. " Li Yanran noticed that the manufacturers of "children’s food" generally claim that they have specially added some nutrients that children need, and that "children’s food" is cute in shape and will increase children’s appetite.

　　Yan Jing (pseudonym) lives in Wuhan, Hubei Province, and has two children, the eldest is 22 years old and the second is 9 years old. With rich experience in parenting, she has her own views on "children’s food". "I don’t believe ‘ Children’s food ’ This label. At present ‘ Children’s food ’ There is no clear definition, and there is no specific and unified standard for composition. Many parents actually don’t know what children of every age should eat, and they see the sign ‘ Children’s food ’ The words will be bought, but it is not rational enough. "

　　According to the survey, 86.2% of the parents surveyed said that when buying food for their children, they would pay special attention to the products marked with the words "children’s food". 84.8% parents are more inclined to buy "children’s food" for their children. Interactive analysis shows that parents interviewed in first-tier cities pay more attention to and buy "children’s food", followed by parents interviewed in second-tier cities.

　　Hu Qin (a pseudonym) from Anhui has a 13-year-old daughter. Hu Qin told reporters that when her daughter was a child, she often paid attention to children’s food. "I can’t help but buy it when I see it. As a parent, I always want to give my child the best and most suitable. I always feel that since the package is marked ‘ Children’s food ’ The formula will be more reasonable, and it will also cost money to buy peace of mind. "

　　As children grow up, Hu Qin’s view on "children’s food" has changed. "The child ate a lot ‘ Children’s food ’ I feel that they are not safer and more nutritious except that they are several times more expensive and the packaging is a little cute, and some even don’t indicate the formula. This is not what our parents imagined ‘ Children’s food ’ . Since my child went to junior high school, I won’t buy anything marked ‘ Children’s food ’ The words "products".

　　Li Ran found that the products labeled "children’s food" were getting more and more expensive, and some of the colors were too bright and beautiful, which made her feel suspicious instead, "I don’t know what additives were added". She feels that some children’s foods are mislabeled with nutrients. "The product advertisements are very good, but the ingredients and contents mentioned in the advertisements are not in the nutrition table. On the contrary, they are similar to what adults usually eat, and children have no effect when they eat them."

　　45.0% of the parents surveyed are uneasy about the "children’s food" on the market.

　　"I think the current so-called ‘ Children’s food ’ There are still many security risks. Children, like to eat heavy flavors. Now there are many foods that cater to children’s tastes, such as junk food such as spicy strips, all of which are sugar, salt and monosodium glutamate, which are unhealthy, not to mention conforming to children’s growth laws. " Yan Wei said.

　　According to the survey, 45.0% of the parents interviewed are not at ease about the "children’s food" on the current market.

　　What are the problems with "children’s food" on the market now? According to the survey, in the opinion of the parents interviewed, adding too much food additives (61.0%) is the biggest problem, followed by exaggerating efficacy and false propaganda (58.9%), and then the price is abnormally high (50.5%).

　　Zhu Danpeng, a researcher at China Food Business Research Institute, told reporters that at present, "children’s food" lacks relevant standards. "The state did not give ‘ Children’s food ’ A standard, the production end basically takes the enterprise standard as the production standard of the product, and the consumer end only has the awareness of protecting children but has no professional discrimination knowledge, so it is difficult to distinguish it only by consumers. This also gives enterprises a lot of free space, resulting in ‘ Children’s food ’ It has become a means for many enterprises to achieve product differentiation and pursue high gross profit, forming a kind of chaos. "

　　74.6% parents want to establish a monitoring, detection and early warning mechanism for "children’s food"

　　At the two sessions this year, An Ting, member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and chairman of Beijing Xiken International Culture and Art (Group) Company, said that "children’s food" with high sugar content is the main cause of children’s obesity, and efforts must be made in the management of "children’s food" for the healthy growth of the next generation.

　　"As parents, we are really scared about food safety. I hope the state will pay attention to ‘ Children’s food ’ The problem, right ‘ Children’s food ’ Strict production control, improve product quality, popularize relevant knowledge. So parents don’t have to buy ‘ Children’s food ’ While worrying, I even went to a purchasing agency to buy foreign ’ Children’s food ’ Yes. " Li Ran said.

　　Yan Jing believes that the first step should be to clarify what is "children’s food" and have corresponding standards. Secondly, some junk food designed for children should be banned directly, and supervision and law enforcement should be strengthened.

　　"The national standard seriously lags behind the development speed of the whole market and cannot keep up with the innovation and upgrading of the industry." Zhu Danpeng believes that the lack of national standard for "children’s food" has given enterprises a loophole for boasting and wrangling. "The state should introduce it as soon as possible ‘ Children’s food ’ The standards can be formulated by referring to international standards and combining with the physique of children in China. Of course, this involves life science, which is a huge system and scientific project. For example, sodium, what is the most reasonable and standard, should be carefully studied. In addition, consumers should establish a sense of rational consumption, master more health and nutrition knowledge, and improve their ability to distinguish. "

　　To ensure the safety of "children’s food", 74.6% parents in the survey hope to establish a safety monitoring, detection and early warning mechanism for "children’s food", 61.8% parents in the survey suggest to carry out special rectification activities to force the removal of "children’s food" that is not conducive to children’s health, and 58.1% parents in the survey hope to stipulate the types and dosage of "children’s food" additives.

　　Among the parents surveyed, 24.8% live in first-tier cities, 50.3% in second-tier cities, 23.0% in third-and fourth-tier cities, 1.8% in towns or counties, and 0.1% in rural areas.

　　China Youth Daily Zhongqing Online Reporter Du Yuanchun Intern Gao Qingwen Source: China Youth Daily