Manufacturers of infant formula continuously work to ensure the food safety and quality of their products

The quality and safety of infant formula is of utmost importance to manufacturers, particularly given that these products are intended for the most vulnerable population – infant…

ISDI comments on the WHO Guideline Development for so-called “ultra-processed foods”

ISDI responded to the call for comments on the provisional 'WHO Guideline Development Group for ultra-processed foods'. Read them in full below. *** The Internationa…

Fit for purpose: How analytical methods keep nutrition products safe

Retired Nestlé specialist Erik Konings explains how global collaboration through Codex, ISO, IDF, and SPIFAN is advancing validated testing methods to ensure safety and complianc…

Webinar: Food is medicine – closing the gap on malnutrition with a new ISO standard for hospitals

It has been estimated that up to 50% of in-patients around the world are affected by malnutrition, a serious condition that occurs when a person’s diet does not contain enough n…

ISDI to work on a new ISO standard to address malnutrition in healthcare facilities

ISDI is supporting work on a new ISO standard for Malnutrition Prevention, Detection and Treatment, which will serve as a blueprint for the effective treatment of malnutrition in h…

ISDI statement in response to UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report – ‘Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children’

UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report, published on 10 September 2025, raises important questions about the prevalence of malnutrition, particularly overweight and obesity, and t…

Allergen labelling: Towards global consistency in communication

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Download the ISDI brochure about FSDU!

Downloads This brochure provides the international background regarding Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU) based on THE GENERAL STANDARD FOR THE LABELLING OF AND CLAIMS …

Food Safety Synergy: Navigating Risk Communication Across Borders

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New one-stop-shop Test Methods website provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide to analytical methods for special dietary foods

Ensuring the safety and nutritional quality of special dietary foods requires the use of accurate and precise test methods. The new ISDI website – Test Methods for Special Dietar…

On World Food Safety Day, ISDI celebrates the fundamental role of science in ensuring safe and nutritious foods for people with special dietary needs

The special dietary foods industries are proud to provide people with the essential safe and ‎nutritious foods they need to live, grow and thrive. This would not be possible wit…

ISDI statement on the WHA Resolution on ‘Regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes’

On 26 May 2025, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted at its 78th session a resolution on ‘Regulating the digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes’. ISDI and its members …

Methods of analysis for special dietary foods: How science ensures food safety and quality for people with special dietary needs

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ISDI factsheet on Carbohydrates and Sugars in Foods for Infants and Young Children

Carbohydrates are one of the three macronutrients in the human diet, along with protein and fat, which are needed in appropriate amounts for energy provision and other bodily funct…

ISDI statement in response to UNICEF’s ‘Countering Industry Arguments against Code Implementation: Evidence and Rights-Based Responses’

In August 2024, UNICEF published a guidance document for ‘Advocates of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes’ (the Code) on how to counter industry arg…

Processing ensures nutrition and food safety for people with special dietary needs, new ISDI publication explains

Processing is fundamental to nutrition and food safety in foods for special dietary uses (FSDU), a special category of foods that is tailored to the nutritional requirements of peo…

Common processes used in the manufacturing of FSDU and the rationale for their use

Foods for special dietary uses (FSDU) are defined by Codex Alimentarius (CXS 146-1985) as ‘foods which are specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary require…

Download the ISDI guidance on the new Codex Standard for Follow-up Formula for Older Infants and Product for Young Children

In November 2023, the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted the revised Standard for Follow-up Formula for Older Infants and Product for Young Children* (CXS 156-1987), initially i…

Why adaptations to compositional and labelling requirements for Follow-up Formula for Older Infants and Product for Young Children require a transition period of at least 36 months

ISDI POSITION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CODEX STANDARD 156-1987 FOR FOLLOW-UP FORMULA FOR OLDER INFANTS AND PRODUCT FOR YOUNG CHILDREN* *Other equivalent names for this product…

ISDI celebrates World Food Safety Day and calls on all stakeholders to ‎work together to prepare for the unexpected

The special dietary foods industries are proud to provide people with the essential safe and ‎nutritious foods they need to live, grow and thrive. Foods for special dietary …

ISDI position on the WHO ‘Guidance on regulatory measures aimed at restricting digital marketing of breast-milk substitutes’

ISDI and its members are committed to ensuring the proper use of breast-milk substitutes (BMS), when these are necessary, on the basis of scientific and factual information and eth…

Download the ISDI Guidelines on Setting Tolerances for Nutrient Values Declared on Labels for Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU)

The ISDI guidelines on Setting Tolerances for Nutrient Values Declared on Labels for Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU) facilitates the understanding of label tolerances and est…

ISDI statement on the ATNI Breast-Milk Substitutes and Complementary Foods Marketing Indexes 2024

ISDI and its members support ATNI’s mission to accelerate sustainable access to nutritious and affordable foods, as well as its vision of a world where markets contribute to nutr…

ISDI position on the methodology for the ATNI 2024 index on Breast-milk Substitutes and Complementary Foods

ISDI supports initiatives that aim to improve the nutrition status of infants and young children globally. We fully support ATNI’s mission of delivering healthy and sustainable d…

Download the ISDI brochure on Foods for Special Dietary Uses & Claims

This brochure provides the international background regarding claims in relation to Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU) including Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP). For m…

ISDI welcomes the publication of the new global standard on follow-up formula for older infants and product for young children

ISDI welcomes the revision of the new global Standard for Follow-up Formula for older infants and product for young children set by Codex Alimentarius (CXS-156-87). The new St…

ISDI statement – WHO Guidance on Complementary Feeding

[Updated September 2024] ISDI and its members are committed to improving nutrition and providing the highest quality products that help meet the nutritional needs of mothers…

ISDI welcomes new global standard on follow-up formula for older infants and products for young children

ISDI welcomes the revision of the new global Standard for Follow-up Formula (CXS-156-87) set by Codex Alimentarius. Adopted in Rome today, the new Standard sets rules for “f…

ISDI response to the WHO consultation on Digital Marketing

ISDI has responded to the public consultation organised by WHO on its proposed Draft Guidance on Regulating Digital Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. Our overarching comments …

Industry Response to The Lancet Series on Breastfeeding – Ensuring access to optimum nutrition requires a holistic approach

Continue reading for our full press release. Brussels, 4 August 2023 - In a joint letter to the editor of The Lancet published today[1], the Secretary Generals of Int…

Working together to support optimum infant nutrition and informed infant feeding choices

Continue reading for our full statement on optimal nutrition and informed infant feeding choices. Download full statement Working together to support optimum nutrition and inf…

ISDI statement on The Lancet’s ‘2023 Series on Breastfeeding’

ISDI and its members recognise that breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for healthy infants and support exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued brea…

Supporting optimal nutrition and ethical interactions with healthcare professionals

Continue reading for our full statement on ethical interactions with healthcare professionals. Download links: English versionFrench versionSpanish version Supporting op…

Download the ISDI brochure on Foods for Special Dietary Uses and Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling

This brochure gives an international overview on Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) in connection to Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU), including Foods for Special M…

Download the ISDI brochure on Infant Formula

The material in the brochure is based on Section A of the Standard for Infant Formula and Formulas for Special Medical Purposes intended for Infants (CXS 72-1981), which define…

Xanthan gum in formulas for special medical purposes for infants

In December 2021, 7 years after ISDI asked JECFA – the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives – to evaluate the use of xanthan gum in formulas for special medical pur…

Download the ISDI brochure on Food Additives in Infant Formula

The ISDI brochure - 'Use of additives in infant formula and formulas for special medical purposes intended for infants' - provides the international background regarding additives …

Adult malnutrition and the role of Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS)

Kate M. Forde BSc MPH RD is Specialised Nutrition Executive - Foods for Special Medical Purposes at Dairy Industry Ireland, and is an experienced dietitian. She answered our …

ISDI statement on the WHO study ‘How the marketing of formula milk influences our decisions on infant feeding’

ISDI and its members are committed to improving nutrition and providing the highest quality products that help meet the nutritional needs of mothers, infants and children. Breastfe…

Responsible Practices for Interactions with Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals (HCPs) ensure that caregivers, parents and people with special dietary needs have access to science-based information in order to make informed nutrition c…

ISDI factsheet on Complementary Foods

Complementary foods refer to foods, whether commercially manufactured or locally prepared, suitable as a complement to breast milk or infant formula when either becomes insufficien…

ISDI Best Principles Related to the Digital Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes

Download the ISDI Best Principles Related to the Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes A. Overall Principles The International Special Dietary Foods Industries (“ISDI”) and…

ISDI factsheet on Follow-up Formula for Older Infants and Young Children

Scientific experts around the world recognise that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life are critical for long-term physical and mental development. The adequate intake of …

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – FSMPs differing by their flavour presence or absence of fibre

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – factors around humidity, temperature and climatic zones

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – packaging factors

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – number of batches

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – microbiological tests

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – contaminants

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – tracers

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

FSMP shelf-life determination: ISDI position – analysis frequency

This position is intended to support manufacturers and provide guidance on shelf-life tests. The recommendations are applicable to Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP), but wo…

ISDI positions for CCNFSDU44

The 44th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU44) will be held in Dresden, Germany, on 2-6 October 2024. For each session,…

ISDI Vice-President presents Codex framework for FSDU labelling and claims

Following the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) for Mesoamerica’s first webinar reviewing the different concepts and definitions regarding foods for special dietary use…

ISDI supports World Food Safety Day and calls on all stakeholders to ‎work together for safer food and better health

The special dietary foods industries are proud to provide people with the essential safe and ‎nutritious foods they need to live, grow and thrive, as well as support the Sustaina…

ISDI Webinar: Food Additives in Infant Formula – A journey through the technological need and evaluation of safety

Food additives play a vital role in manufacturing safe, high quality formulas for infants. The Codex Alimentarius process for the authorisation of additives in infant formula is ro…

ISDI Positions for CCNFSDU42

The 42nd Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU42) will be held virtually on 19, 22-25 November and 1 December 2021 (12:0…

ISDI webinar: The role of toddler milks in early childhood nutrition

On 21 September, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) will hold an expert webinar on 'the role of toddler milks in early childhood nutrition' with Professor Pe…

ISDI Webinar: Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals – Analytical methods and current challenges

On 8 September, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) will hold an expert webinar on 'Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals: Analytical methods and curr…

ISDI Webinar: Communicating Codex Standards and Guidelines

ISDI is an Observer to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and participates in many Codex committees, most importantly in the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dieta…

ISDI supports World Food Safety Day and calls on all stakeholders to ‎‎come together for food safety

Safe and nutritious food plays an essential role in providing for the health and wellbeing of ‎people around the world, as well as supporting communities by driving economic ‎d…

ISDI soutient la Journée mondiale de la ‎sécurité alimentaire et appelle ‎‎toutes les ‎parties prenantes à s’unir pour la sécurité ‎alimentaire

Une alimentation sûre et nutritive joue un rôle essentiel dans la santé et le bien-être des ‎populations du monde entier, ainsi que dans le soutien aux communautés en favori…

ISDI apoya el Día Mundial de la Inocuidad de los Alimentos y pide a todas las partes interesadas que se unan en pro de la seguridad alimentaria

Los alimentos seguros y nutritivos desempeñan un papel esencial en la salud y el bienestar de las personas de todo el mundo, además de apoyar a las comunidades impulsando el desa…

ISDI statement on complementary feeding of infants and young children

ISDI welcomes the publication of the recent article on Complementary feeding of infants and young children 6 to 23 months of age by Chessa K Lutter, Laurence Grummer-Strawn an…

Join our ‘Addressing Malnutrition in the Adult & Elderly Population’ webinar on 5 May

On 5 May, 2-3pm CET, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries Association (ISDI) will hold an expert webinar on ‘Addressing Malnutrition in the Adult & Elderly Popu…

Join our webinar ‘The concept of sweet taste in products for young children: what is it and can it be measured?’ on 28 April

On 28 April, 2-3pm CET, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries Association (ISDI) will hold an expert webinar on ‘The concept of sweet taste in products* for young ch…

ISDI Statement on the Breastmilk Substitutes Call to Action

ISDI acknowledges the Breastmilk Substitutes ‘Call to Action’ – the Road to Compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (WHO Code), issued …

Join our ‘Addressing Nutrition Deficiencies in Infants and Young Children’ webinar on 20 April

The International Special Dietary Foods Industries Association (ISDI), has the pleasure to invite you to its webinar ‘Addressing Nutrition Deficiencies in Infants and Young Child…

ISDI FSDU brochure now available in French and Spanish

ISDI is pleased to announce that the brochure on international standards for Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU) is now available in French and Spanish. The brochure, first …

Join us on 2 March to talk about Flavourings in Foods for Infants & Young Children

In the context of the revision of the Follow-Up Formula (FUF) Standard at Step 4 for older infants (OI) and young children (YC), ISDI created a position paper with the aim to suppo…

Join us on 3 February to talk about Digital Marketing & WHO Engagement with Rocco Renaldi

Opportunities, challenges and lessons learned from the International Food & Beverage Alliance (IFBA) Following the World Health Assembly’s resolution (WHA/73/26) re…

ISDI Virtual Events Series

ISDI is pleased to announce the launch of a virtual event series on policy and regulatory issues related to special dietary foods. These virtual events over the course of 2021…

World Diabetes Day 2020: diabetes-specific formulas aid patient recovery

Diabetes is a growing global health concern, with the prevalence of the disease among adults rising from 4.7% to 9.1% over the past 30 years. In 2019, this represented an estimated…

Identification of fit-for-purpose analytical methods for infant formula compliance

The composition of infant formulas is strictly regulated and rigorously tested by official control bodies. Occasionally, competent authorities find deviations between test results …

ISDI Positions for CAC43

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) will be held virtually for the first time in Codex history. The virtual session of the Commission has been enabled by the agreement of the C…

Nutrition interventions are an effective tool for addressing patient safety

On this World Patient Safety Day, we celebrate the health workers who have faced huge challenges and great risk in keeping patients—and themselves—safe during this global publi…

ISDI publishes updated brochure on international Codex standards for Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU)

ISDI is pleased to announce the publication of an updated version of its brochure on international standards for Foods for Special Dietary Uses (FSDU). The brochure gives a co…

ISDI supports World Food Safety Day and calls on all stakeholders to come together for food safety

Safe and nutritious food plays an essential role in providing for the health and wellbeing of people around the world, as well as supporting communities by driving economic develop…

ISDI publishes new ‘one-stop shop’ brochure on international Codex standards for Foods for Special Medical Purposes

ISDI is pleased to announce the publication of a new guidance brochure on Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP).   The brochure provides a comprehensive overview of the in…

Download the ISDI brochure on Foods for Special Medical Purposes

This brochure provides the international background regarding Foods for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) based on THE STANDARD FOR THE LABELLING OF AND CLAIMS FOR FOODS FOR SPECIAL …

ISDI Statement on COVID-19 and the Special Dietary Foods Industries

At the International Special Dietary Foods Industries, food safety is at the heart of everything we do. This is even more the case during these unprecedented times, where foods for…

ISDI welcomes progress at the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses in Düsseldorf

As a Codex Observer, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) contributed and shared its expertise at the 41st session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Food…

ISDI Positions for CCNFSDU41

The 41st Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU41) will be held at the InterContinental Hotel from 24-29 November 2019. The opening…

ISDI supports the World Diabetes Day!

For hospitalised patients with diabetes, poor glucose control leads to adverse health outcomes while good control improves patients’ outcomes and cuts the cost of care.  Bas…

ISDI Represented at CNSC & APCCN in Nanjing

From 19-22 September 2019, Paul Hanlon and Cris Bradley represented ISDI at the 14th China Nutrition Science Congress and 11th Asia Pacific Conference on Clinical Nutrition in Nan…

ISDI Reactive Statement – WHO Europe reports on Baby Food

ISDI notes the release of the WHO Europe Reports on commercial complementary foods for infants and young children in Europe: ‘Ending inappropriate promotion of commercially avai…

ISDI Q&A on NRVs-R for older infants and young children

In the scope of the work on Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs) for Older Infants (OI) and Young Children (YC), ISDI prepared a Q&A document to explain the issues to a wider non-…

ISDI supports the first World Food Safety Day!

ISDI is proud to support the first World Food Safety Day (WFSD) which will be celebrated on 7 June 2019! ISDI joins other stakeholders involved in safe food production, manufactur…

ISDI Press Satement Celebrating International Coeliac Day!

ISDI is pleased to celebrate International Coeliac Day today, and the anniversary of the release of its brochure on gluten-free labelling. ISDI represents manufacturers of glu…

ISDI Positions for CCFL45

The 45th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling will be held from May 13th to 17th 2019 in Shaw Centre, Ottawa, Canada. The Session will begin at 09:30, Monday, May 13th…

ISDI’s General Assembly elected the new Governing Board Members for the mandate 2019-2021:

On 20 March 2019 in Rome, Italy, the ISDI General Assembly elected the following Governing Board member for the mandate 2019-2021: NAMEPROPOSED BYVenetta MirandaAPI…

Register for the ISDI Regional Meeting 2019 in Rome!

This year ISDI's General Assembly & Regional meeting will take place on 20 March 2019 in Rome, Italy. Programme & Schedule We are delighted to welcome…

Good Nutrition Early in Life supports Lifelong Health

For more than 100 years, generations of children worldwide have grown up to become healthy adults using our science-based, high quality products or are alive today because of our …

Download the ISDI brochure about the guidance on gluten-free labelling!

The brochure provides the international background regarding the labelling of gluten-free food based on Codex Standard 118-1979 - STANDARD FOR FOODS FOR SPECIAL DIETARY USE FOR PER…

ISDI Positions for CCNFSDU40

The 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses will be held at the H4 Hotel Berlin-Alexanderplatz. The opening session will start at 9:30 a…

ISDI Position Statement: “A new era for diabetes specific enteral nutrition policy: A scientific update”

ISDI Position Statement: "A new era for diabetes specific enteral nutrition policy: A scientific update" Diabetes-specific formulas (DSF) are a safe, efficacious and cost-effectiv…

ISDI Speaker on Food Additives at USDA event in Thailand

The Chair of ISDI Food Additives WG was recently an invited speaker to a USDA Bangkok capacity-building workshop titled: Good Regulatory Practices (GRP)- Tools to Effectively Achie…

ISDI participation at the 3rd China Special Food International Conference 31 October 2018

Hosted by the China Nutrition and Health Food Association, the 3rd China Special Food International Conference is taking placed in Beijing, China. As part of the session entitled G…

ISDI Statement: The private sector is an important contributor in policy discussions

ISDI Statement: The private sector is an important contributor in policy discussions All stakeholders make different, yet important contributions to policy discussions. The privat…

New WHO and ESPEN International Guidelines Recommend Nutritional Supplementation for Maintaining Health of Older Adults at Risk of Malnutrition

The International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) supports both the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the WHO evidence-based guidelines for…

A new era for diabetes-specific enteral nutrition policy: A scientific update

Position statement from the International Special Dietary Foods Industries ISDI Policy Statement* Diabetes-specific formulas (DSF) are a safe, efficacious and cost-effective …

Statement on the Access to Nutrition Foundation’s 2018 Global Access to Nutrition Index

The International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) supports the Access to Nutrition Foundation`s (ATNF) goal to encourage companies to increase consumer access to nutritious…

ISDI participation at CAC41

The 41st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) will be held from July 2nd to July 6th 2018 in Rome, Italy. The CAC is the body responsible for all matters regarding th…

Updated ISDI Statement to NGO “Don’t push it” Campaign

Confirming industry commitment to ethical, unambiguous and transparent marketing ISDI, the leading international expert association on special dietary foods, is aware of the report…

ISDI Reactive Statement to NGO “Milking It” Campaign

Reinforcing industry commitment to advancing optimal infant and young child nutrition through scientific and medical research, supported by education and information. It is essent…