The USDA invites public input on proposed positions for upcoming Codex Committee discussions on nutrition standards for foods for infants and young children, ahead of the November meeting in Germany that could influence global food regulations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is inviting public comment on proposed U.S. positions ahead of an international meeting that will examine nutrition standards for foods made for infants and young children.
The USDA’s U.S. Codex Office has set a virtual public meeting for 5 October 2026, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET. According to a Federal Register notice, the session will be held entirely by video conference and is intended to brief consumers, industry representatives and other interested parties on the issues the United States plans to raise at the next Codex gathering in Germany.
That international meeting, the 45th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses, is scheduled for 2 to 6 November 2026 in Nuremberg. USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service say the committee is part of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the UN-backed food standards body that develops guidelines aimed at protecting consumer health and supporting fair trade in food. The November agenda includes nutrient reference values for children aged six to 36 months, a draft standard for foods for older infants and young children, and discussions of additives, testing methods and new work on nutrition issues.
For parents, the meeting is not a sign that products now on shelves are being pulled into question. Codex standards do not automatically change US law, and current FDA and USDA rules remain in force unless domestic regulators act separately. Still, USDA participation matters because Codex decisions can shape international expectations for specialised foods, including infant formula, baby foods and other products for young children, as the department’s own committee materials have shown in prior sessions.
Dr Douglas Balentine, the US delegate to the committee, is accepting written comments by email. USDA says submissions should clearly identify that they relate to the 45th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses. People who register for the October meeting will be able to hear the draft US positions, ask questions and offer comments before the delegation travels to Germany.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
