Letter of Reply to Proposal No. 01722 (No. 073 of the Trade Supervision Category) of the Fourth Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Dear Member: Your proposal titled "Proposal on Improving National Food Safety Standards for Children Aged 3–14" has been received. After consultation with the State Administration for Market Regulation, we reply as follows: I. Current Status and Progress of Work In recent years, our Commission has consistently implemented the "four strictest" requirements, taken "preventing risks, protecting health, promoting development" as its work orientation, and advanced food safety and nutrition and health work in a coordinated manner. A total of 1,750 national food safety standards have been issued, including four major categories—general standards, product standards, production specifications and testing method standards—covering all more than 340 food categories and more than 20,000 indicators, providing dietary safety guarantees for the entire population, including children. At the same time, special dietary guidance documents on child stunting and obesity have been issued successively, providing scientific guidance for improving the nutritional status of children and adolescents, curbing obesity and cultivating healthy eating behaviors. II. Reply to the Recommendations Raised (1) On formulating dedicated food safety standards for children. First, five national food safety standards for infants and young children under 3 years of age have been issued, as well as the National Food Safety Standard Complementary Food Supplements (GB 22570-2014), which applies to infants, young children and preschool children aged 6–60 months, so as to meet the health needs of infants, young children and preschool children. Second, taking into account the particularity of the child population, the National Food Safety Standard Standard for the Use of Nutritional Fortification Substances in Foods (GB 14880-2012) separately specifies the usage amounts of nutritional fortification substances for milk powder for children. Third, for food products that children like to eat, such as candies, chocolate, pastries and bread, corresponding product standards and hygiene specification standards have been formulated to ensure the safety of the relevant food products and production processes. Fourth, existing scientific evidence shows that the dietary patterns of children over 3 years of age are basically consistent with those of adults, and it is also common international practice that their food types need not be specially distinguished from those of adults. In the process of formulating existing food safety standards, full consideration has already been given to children's dietary nutrition and food safety needs, as well as the individual differences between adults and sensitive populations such as children, taking into account both the need to preserve nutrients during the preparation of children's meals and the need for standardized labeling of product nutritional composition; moreover, on the basis of the safety threshold, the health guidance values required for standard development are derived using a 100-fold safety factor, which can meet the health protection requirements of special populations such as children. Fifth, specification-type standards such as the General Hygienic Specification for Catering Services (GB 31654-2021) set requirements for the entire process of meal processing, preparation and service, including for children. The Nutritional Guidelines for Student Meals (WS/T 554-2017) and the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 28050-2025) have already taken into account both the need to preserve nutrients during the preparation of children's meals and the need for standardized labeling of product nutritional composition. Strict implementation by enterprises of the current national standards related to food safety can guarantee children's dietary safety. (2) On establishing a mandatory binding mechanism for the nutritional composition of children's food. First, the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022) proposes, by age group, balanced diet pagodas for preschool children and for school-age children aged 6–10, 11–13 and 14–17, and specifies the recommended intake of various foods. At the same time, it emphasizes requirements for sugar, sodium and trans fatty acid intake that are stricter than those for adults. Second, the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 28050-2025), on the basis of mandatory labeling of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate and sodium, adds two items—saturated fat (saturated fatty acids) and sugar—regulates nutrition labeling of prepackaged foods, and promotes the nutritional and health-oriented transformation and upgrading of the food industry. Third, to implement the requirements of the Law on the Protection of Minors, it explicitly requires prepackaged foods (including prepackaged beverages) to mandatorily bear the reminder that "children and adolescents should avoid excessive intake of salt, oil and sugar". Fourth, optional warning phrases concerning excessive intake of fat, sugar and salt have been added, including "long-term high fat intake is not conducive to maintaining normal body weight and body fat levels", "long-term excessive intake of saturated fat can increase blood cholesterol", and "long-term high sugar intake can increase the risk of dental caries and obesity", guiding the public to choose foods scientifically. (3) On regulating the labeling and marking of "children's food". First, the Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Food Labeling have been improved, requiring that "where there is no basis in laws, regulations, rules, national food safety standards or industry standards, food labeling shall not claim to be suitable for consumption by minors, thereby deceiving or misleading consumers"; these Measures will be officially implemented in February 2027. Second, the nutrition labeling of prepackaged foods has been further regulated. GB 28050-2025 sets out clear provisions on the nutrition label, nutrition composition table and other contents of prepackaged foods, such as "the nutrition composition table shall be clear, prominent and durable", "the nutrition label shall be marked on the package of the smallest sales unit provided to consumers", and "when nutrients other than energy, protein, fat, saturated fat (or saturated fatty acids), carbohydrate, sugar and sodium are declared, forms such as increasing the font size, changing the typeface (e.g., italics, bold, extra bold) or adjusting colors (text or background color) shall be adopted to make the mandatory information more prominent", so as to facilitate the public's reasonable purchase of foods. Third, the National Food Safety Standard General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (GB 7718-2025) provides that false, exaggerated or other deceptive wording, graphics or symbols shall not be used to introduce food, and that wording, graphics or symbols shall not be used to expressly or implicitly indicate that food, or a certain ingredient or component in food, has the effect of preventing or treating diseases. III. Next-Step Work Objectives and Plans Our Commission will continue to strengthen the safeguarding of children's dietary safety and nutrition and health, continuously improve the standards system, track the latest domestic and international research findings on the dietary safety and nutrition and health of children of different age groups, and promptly revise and improve the relevant national food safety standards, so as to effectively safeguard children's dietary health. We will carry out in depth the "strengthen the grassroots, enter enterprises" service activities for standard dissemination and implementation, and guide enterprises and grassroots regulators to accurately understand and correctly implement the standards. We will cooperate with market regulation authorities in investigating and dealing with illegal acts in accordance with the law, such as food labeling that does not comply with regulations and false publicity in the sales process, and regulate the high-quality development of the children's food industry. We will revise the Nutritional Guidelines for Student Meals to further clarify the full-day energy and nutrient supply, food types, quantities and meal-matching principles for primary and secondary school students, and continue to carry out student nutrition improvement. We will enrich nutrition science popularization activities, enhance the public's knowledge literacy on food nutrition and rational diets, and strengthen the popularization of nutrition and health knowledge and dietary nutrition guidance for key populations such as children. Thank you for your concern for and support of health work. National Health Commission August 17, 2026