Despite having the tools to prevent disease-related malnutrition, the UK is facing an increase in cases.
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On 22 February 2019, the new European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/128 on Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) will come into force. This regulation updates, but largely retains, the existing rules for FSMPs, including the definitions of the category and the nutritional composition. However, it updates specific requirements for FSMPs, including labelling and formulation.The deadline for compliance is 22 February 2019 for all FSMPs for use in patients from one years old, with the rules for FSMPs developed for infants applying from February 2020.
On 28 January 2019, The Sun and The Daily Mail reported: ‘Starved to death - Three patients a day die from malnutrition, thirst or choking on hospital wards’.
The infant formula manufacturer members of BSNA are committed to responsible interaction with healthcare professionals (HCPs) as part of their support for the aims and principles of the WHO Code.
NHS England has published guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) on the prescribing of gluten-free foods in primary care in England. This follows the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) consultation outcome, to continue to allow access to gluten-free foods on prescription in England but to restrict items to gluten-free bread products and mixes only.
An amendment to the Prescribing Regulations came into force on the 4 December 2018 and from this date only gluten-free bread products and mixes will be available on prescription in England. All other gluten free foods will no longer be prescribed and will be blacklisted within the amended Regulation.
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed a baby and is important for both mother and baby’s health and wellbeing. Where a mother chooses not to or is unable to breastfeed BSNA’s members provide a range of formula milks available to meet the nutritional requirements of babies.
The manufacturers of formula milks in the UK have today committed to adhere to a new Code of Practice.
Rice is an important contributor to a balanced and healthy diet, and a staple food source for many. Rice based cereals are often used as an important part of the weaning stage of an infant’s diet; healthcare associations continue to encourage parents to feed babies a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of iron-rich infant cereals including oatmeal, wheat, multigrain or rice, from first weaning.
The Royal College of Midwives has provided comment on recent research published by the University of Edinburgh.
The Department and Health and Social Care has launched a consultation on the Regulations of gluten-free food on prescription in England
Thanks to advances in antenatal care, the overall survival rates for preterm infants has increased in England over the last two decades. These infants are vulnerable and specialist paediatric dietitians have a crucial role to play in providing the nutritional support and intervention required to make sure that the diet of these infants is effectively managed.
NHS England Guidance on Commissioning Excellent Nutrition and Hydration 2015-2018, NICE Clinical Guideline 32 on Nutrition Support in Adults (CG32) and NICE Quality Standard 24 (QS24), support the use of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) whenever there is a clinical need to do so.
BSNA supports the Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) new position statement on infant feeding, published on 12 June.
Parents should be provided with all the information and support they need to feed their newborn baby. The new position statement from RCM recommends that balanced and relevant information be given to parents choosing to formula feed their babies, whether exclusively or partially, to enable them to do so safely and with support to develop a close and loving bond with the baby. This is to is to be welcomed, in the best interests of both parent and child.
Gluten-free prescribing is in a state of flux, with substantial clinically unwarranted variation between practices and CCGs according to a study punlished in BMJ Open.
The Medical Nutrition International Industry (MNI) is pleased to announce an award of €30,000 to planned national initiatives or research projects to support Optimal Nutrition Care.
From 1 April 2018, healthcare professionals will begin to see the IDDSI Framework transition into healthcare settings.
BSNA supports high quality, safe nutrition and hydration for all patients and welcomes Nutrition and Hydration Week 2018.
Gluten-free breads and flour mixes should remain on prescription to those who are clinically diagnosed with coeliac disease according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). This announcement follows a National consultation which received an overwhelming number of responses from a range of stakeholders, including patients and clinicians.
Advances in the delivery of parenteral nutrition (nutrition through the vein) and improved homecare support has helped to open-up new possibilities of feeding individuals (at home) with advanced malignancy and intestinal failure.
BSNA members adhere to strict safety protocols to mitigate against contamination with bacteria, and formula milks are routinely tested for the presence of pathogens. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) have confirmed that no UK products have been affected by this issue.
Acrylamide is a chemical substance formed by a reaction between amino acids and sugars, both of which are natural components of plant and plant-derived ingredients. Acrylamide is not deliberately added to foods, it is a natural by-product of the cooking process and typically occurs when foods with high starch content such as potatoes, root vegetables and bread, are cooked at high temperatures (over 120°C).
BSNA welcomes the Commission Notice on the classification of Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs) to ensure EU harmonisation on the scope and definition of the category
A study from Brunel University, comparing gluten-free multi-purpose mixes to plain gluten-free flour, found the functionality of gluten-free mixes to be superior to plain gluten-free flours.
BSNA members are committed to supporting parents and care-givers in the feeding of infants in the first three years of life by offering a wide range of specifically formulated food products. To provide an illustrative overview of the key role commercial complementary foods can play in supporting the appropriate nutrient intake in healthy babies, the legislation in place and the current nutritional picture across Europe, BSNA have designed a new baby foods infographic.
All EU countries have a national monitoring programme and all major components of national diet are sampled for pesticide residues. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) carries out this essential monitoring role in the UK. FSA’s pesticide residues surveillance programme monitors pesticide residues* in food and drink, including infant foods, in the UK supply chain.
The infant nutrition industry is committed to acting in a responsible, ethical, and professional manner. Our purpose is to provide safe and adequate nutrition for infants. When marketing follow on-formula and young child formula we provide the information necessary to support their safe and proper use.
The Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT) and The British Dietetic Association (BDA) have formally adopted the IDDSI Framework.
Nutrition is imperative to our existence and over the years the awareness of the importance of good nutrition has increased, including the role that nutrition can play in preventing and managing disease and medical conditions. High quality nutritional care should be at the heart of patient care but, in reality, it is still often ignored.
An update on specialist nutrition, produced by BSNA, is now available in the October edition of Complete Nutrition (CN) Magazine.
Tackling the Health Challenge – 2nd November 2017, FDF, London
Breastmilk is unequivocally the best source of nutrients for a healthy infant, however in order to provide accurate information and advice to parents, are you updated on the various formula milks available on the market? Katherine Sykes overviews the recent shifts in the regulation, innovation and prescription of formula milks.
Malnutrition is a serious problem, with more than three million people in the UK either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. This is estimated to cost the public purse £19.6 billion a year. Katherine Sykes discusses the importance of appropriately managing malnutrition in a recent article in Complete Nutrition.
Adhering to a GF diet is known to be challenging, and this is shown by levels of adherence ranging between 36-96%. In England, National Prescribing Guidelines recommend prescribing 18 units per month for adults clinically diagnosed with CD. However, a number of local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are currently restricting or removing GF prescriptions, resulting in disparity.
More and more, nutrition economic studies are showing that nutrition care is a cost-effective way to prevent and treat medical problems for both acute and chronic health conditions.
Complementary foods, also known as ‘weaning foods’ or ‘baby foods’, facilitate the transition from a liquid diet based on breastmilk or infant formula, to one which includes solid foods.
In the UK it is recommended that complementary feeding occurs around 6 months of age. During this period of life, due to rapid growth and development, nutrient needs are very high.
Commercially prepared complementary foods can help to ensure parents may always provide a variety of balanced and healthy foods that offer a range of tastes and textures. They can be used as part of a diversified diet to help support the safe nourishment of young children.
The Department of Health launched a consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on prescription, which ended at midday on 22 June 2017.
An update on specialist nutrition, published in the June edition of CN Magazine. This month BSNA discusses the innovation and regulation of formula milks, along with the Department of Health's consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on prescription.
Coeliac UK has published their response to the the Department of Health's Consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on prescription
BSNA are seeking the views of those who suffer from coeliac disease to help respond to the Department of Health consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on prescription.
Malnutrition associated with disease and under-nutrition negatively affects the treatment of patients in European countries. Each patient should be systematically screened, and if identified or at risk of becoming malnourished, should have access to adequate, equitable and high-quality nutritional care.
Research carried out at Queens University Belfast by Professor Meharg and colleagues and reported in the media was carried out using products bought in February 2016. This was one month after the application of the legislative requirements. It is likely that all samples were manufactured before the legislation came into force.
There have been no validated reports of children or babies becoming ill from the very small amounts of arsenic found in these products.
If any safety concern existed in relation to the products on the market before January, 2016, they would have been withdrawn from the market. This did not happen confirming the safety of these products.
Over the past year, there has been an increasing focus on the regulatory environment of formula milks. In May 2016, a resolution was proposed at the World Health Assembly (WHA), which called for the banning of advertising of all formulas for the first three years of life. Over the same summer, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) consulted its members on whether the College should receive any funding from formula milk companies. In late 2016, Alison Thewliss MP introduced a Bill to the House of Commons, Feeding Products for Babies and Children (Advertising and Promotion).
A mother will always want the best for her new born baby and when it comes to feeding, the research demonstrates that breastmilk provides the best nutritional support for a growing infant. However, in reality, breastfeeding rates in the UK are low. New survey data from Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England indicates that although almost three-quarters of women start breastfeeding when their child is born, within 6-8 weeks this has dropped to 44%.
Coeliac UK have written 5 myth-busting facts about gluten-free foods.
Kevan Jones MP is calling for the Government to maintain gluten free foods on prescriptions, following the announcement from Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, that a national review will be conducted looking at 10 prescription items.
Today Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, has announced there will be a review of low value prescription items from April 2017, introducing new guidance for CCGs.
Tendering for nutrition supply services can be considered a complex and significant undertaking, involving collaboration from a wide range and diversity of stakeholders. The ‘Best practice for the provision of nutrition supply services including feeds, pumps, consumables, home delivery and associated support services’ document is intended to support procurement groups/clinicians throughout the process and aims to define and encourage best practice with regard to the procurement of nutrition supply services across the whole health economy.
Good nutrition is important all through life, but never more so than in old age, when a healthy diet is a vital part of any strategy to help older people stay active, disease-free and independent.
The Telegraph has published an article titled 'Losing weight in old age is 'not normal' and should be seen as alarm bell' discussing the warning signs and consequences of malnutirtion. A study by the Malnutrition Task Force has shown a tripling in the number of patients admitted to hospital suffering from malnutrition over the past decade. Experts have said that losing weight in old age could be an “alarm bell” for malnutrition or cancer, as losing weight is not a normal part of ageing.
On 1 March 2017 the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) held a conference discussing the changes in legislation from PARNUTS to FSG.
An open letter to the UK Government on future trading with the Republic of Ireland as the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.
A Bill was published this week by Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central (SNP). First presented to the House of Commons on 16 November 2016, a second reading was scheduled for Friday 24 February, but has now been postponed to 24 March 2017.
Specialist nutrition helps people to be healthy, survive and thrive at every stage of their lives. It supports positive health outcomes and reduces costs to the NHS. This month, our CN Column discusses two main topics.
Breastmilk is the best nutrition for a baby and the first feeds protect against infection as antibodies are passed to the baby. Where a mother cannot or chooses not to breastfeed, infant formula is the only safe alternative that should be used.
BSNA calls on CCGs to ensure that gluten free food is available on prescription. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has launched its first Quality Standard on coeliac disease, aiming to drive standards in the diagnosis, support and care of people with coeliac disease. It also identifies areas where health inequalities negatively impact patients who suffer from coeliac disease.
BSNA has written an article on malnutrition in the elderly, which was published in NHD Magazine.
The British Specialist Nutrition Association (BSNA) and its members recognise their responsibility in meeting the challenges posed by obesity.
BSNA has written an article on prescribing Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS), which was published in the August / September edition of the NHD Magazine.