What is a special medical food? How to choose?

What is a special medical food?

Infants and young children are generally fed breast milk or infant formula. However, there are also a very small number of infants and young children who are unable to eat ordinary infants and young children due to allergies to milk and other milk proteins, lactose intolerance, etc. Formula milk powder requires special food. Special medical food is a type of special food used under the guidance of doctors or clinical nutritionists. It is approved and managed by the State Administration for Market Regulation in accordance with laws, regulations and national food safety standards.

How do consumers correctly choose special medical food?

When purchasing special medical food, check the information on the product packaging: first look at the product name. The product name should be a name registered and approved by the state, such as ××× complete nutritional formula for special medical purposes (powder), ××× infant lactose-free formula for special medical purposes (powder), ××× infant amino acid formula for special medical purposes (Powder) etc. Secondly, look at the product registration information. Special medical food must be approved and registered by the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the registration number format is "National Food Notation TY + 8 digits". In addition, the categories of special medical foods (applicable groups) are printed on the outer packaging of regular products. Among them, the categories of infant formulas for special medical purposes (applicable groups) include: lactose-free or low-lactose formula (lactose intolerant infants), milk protein Partially hydrolyzed formula (infants at high risk of milk protein allergy), milk protein extensively hydrolyzed formula or amino acid formula (infants with food protein allergy), premature/low birth weight infant formula (premature/low birth weight infants), amino acid metabolism disorder formula (amino acid metabolism Infants with disabilities) and breast milk nutritional supplements (premature/low birth weight infants), etc.