Health Canada clarifies stance on meat for babies

Health Canada is clearing the air about what kind of solid foods babies should be introduced to.

The clarification comes after some media outlets reported Tuesday that the agency changed its list of recommended first foods for Canadian babies to include meat and meat alternatives – like eggs, tofu and legumes – to help meet nutritional needs.

For the record, Health Canada has not recently modified these guidelines. Since 2004, the agency has recommended iron-rich foods, such as meat and iron-fortified cereal, as a baby’s first solid foods, because iron is crucial to brain development. Most baby cereals now contain iron.

There is no scientific evidence suggesting meat is harder on a baby’s digestive system, but parents are reminded to puree the meat with water or breast milk, so it’s easier for the child to swallow.

Registered dietitian Cora Rosenbloom also tells Global National‘s Jennifer Tryon that there’s no reason to withhold eggs. “There’s really no evidence to say that food allergies are going to be more common if eggs are introduced earlier.”

It’s expected sometime next year, Health Canada will update its recommendations for feeding babies aged six and 24 months old.

Link to Health Canada’s current recommendations.

Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @JenTryon

With a file from The Canadian Press