Actions for the protection and prevention of sustainable healthy complementary feeding in nurseries

BACKGROUND: The WHO and UNICEF in the Global Strategy for infant and young children feeding (GS), indicate that the principle actors of society play significant roles in protecting, promoting and supporting safe and adequate complementary feeding for infants and young children. The WHO and FAO in The Sustainable Healthy Diet, guiding principles (SHD) moreover underline synergies among foods, nutrients present in dietary patterns and their bioavailability, degree of food processing, and subsequent health impact. COVID-19's (C) social economic impact has changed food supply costs. The UNICEF Baby-Friendly Community Initiative, involving 41 nurseries with 1600 enrolled children and a coverage rate of 38% (EU objective 35%) has operated in the municipality of Trieste, since 2015. Beginning August 2022 the project aims were to verify the application of food safety regulations (FSR), recommendation of the GS, SHD and regional nutritional guidelines (RNG) in nursery catering services. METHODS: 13 nurseries have been verified. 78 food samples (FS) of oven-cooked vegetables (V), meat and fish (MF) were taken from 10 nursery kitchens, with a total production of 1150 meals per day. The University of Trieste has performed over 400 analyses. The outcomes were compared with FSR, literature references and pre C research results carried out in 2015. RESULTS: Relevant and systemic corrective actions indicated by FSR, GS and RNG have been implemented to overcome non-compliance. The analyses performed on FS have shown that the protective compounds have remained similar, and in some cases improved, in V foods. However, in the MF-based oven-cooked preparations, a significant content of Maillard products was highlighted and only some of them showed values above the acceptable limit. CONCLUSIONS: The evidence of the project will be able to orient public actors for future integrated actions of protection, promotion and support of a healthy and sustainable complementary diet after C. KEY MESSAGES: • After the social economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic it is determinant to support public actors in continuing to protect, promote and support safe and adequate complementary feeding in nurseries. • It is crucial to program systemic and coordinated actions to ensure adequate resilient food systems in nursery catering services in adherence with the WHO, FAO and UNICEF recommendations.