TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
No. 03-24
School Support Services
FOOD AND NUTRITION MANAGEMENT
Contact:
Irene Wimbush
Jim Horne, Commissioner
(
850) 245-9334
800/504-6609
DATE:
April 23, 2003
TO:
Sponsors of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
FROM:
Diane Santoro, Administrator
Food and Nutrition Management (FNM)
SUBJECT:
Baby Fruits or Vegetables with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)
This technical assistance note is in response to guidance issued by the USDA regarding the use of
baby foods containing DHA for infant meals. The USDA’s position is that certain baby food
products containing DHA cannot be served to infants as part of a reimbursable meal in the Child
Nutrition Programs.
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that occurs naturally in breast milk as well as other foods and is known
to support an infant’s mental and visual development. DHA may be added to commercially- prepared
infant fruits, and vegetables and infant formula.
The source of DHA in some lines of baby food products, such as Beech-Nut First Advantage Sweet
Potato Soufflé` or Tropical Blend, is egg yolk. These DHA-added products combine fruits and
vegetables with dried egg yolk, heavy cream, rice flour, vanilla extract, and other ingredients. They
are not labeled or marketed as desserts, but they contain similar ingredients that may not be
appropriate for an infant younger than 8 months of age. Introducing these “dessert-like” ingredients
into an infant’s diet at an earlier age could result in a food sensitivity or food allergy.
Although DHA-added products cannot contribute to the infant meal pattern, they may be served as
additional foods to infants 8 months of age or older. However, since they contain several ingredients,
additives or extenders that could cause allergic reactions, it is recommended that schools check with
the infant’s parent or guardian, before serving these foods.
If you have questions, please contact Irene Wimbush at (800) 504-6609 or irene.wimbush@fldoe.org.
