Baby Food
Product Uses
Food Uses (2014) 1
Baby food is prepared food used to feed babies before they can chew whole solid foods. Baby foods are most commonly fruit and vegetable purees. Baby food can also be used in recipes for baked goods and other dishes for children or adults.
Non-Food Uses
Non-food uses of this project were not identified.
Food Product Codes
FDA Industry Code and General Industry Description 2
| FDA Industry Code | Description of Product |
|---|
HTS code(s) (2015) 3
| HTS Code | Description of Product |
|---|
USDA NDB code(s) (2015) 4
| USDA NDB Code | Description of Product |
|---|
Standards and Grades
CODEX Standards (1991) 5
CODEX STAN 73-1981
CODEX STAN 74-1981
CAC/GL 8-1991
CAC/GL 10-1979
FDA Standard of Identity 6
No FDA Standard of Identity was located for this food product.
USDA Grades 7
No US Grade was located for this product.
Consumption, Production and Trade
United States Import Patterns (2015) 8
There is not a seasonal pattern for the imports of baby food into the U.S. over the past five years. The imports are fairly sporadic, and do fluctuate, but do not show a pattern.
Monthly Imports of Baby Food into the United States 9
Data pulled using FAS category "Processed Foods - Baby Food". Import quantity HTS codes: 09011* - Preparations for infant use. Updated July, 2023.
US Imports and Exports by Value 9
Import value HTS codes: 09011* - Preparations for infant use.
Updated July, 2023.
HTS codes: 0706103000, 0706103010, 0706103050 - CARROTS FR/CH.
Updated July, 2023.
US Imports and Exports by Quantity 9
Import quantity HTS codes: 09011* - Preparations for infant use.
Updated July, 2023.
HTS codes: 0706103000, 0706103010, 0706103050 - CARROTS FR/CH.
Updated July, 2023.
Active anti-dumping/countervailing duties (2016) 10
Based on the list of antidumping and countervailing duty orders current as of April 28, 2016, there are no active antidumping or countervailing duties for this product.
Processing and Supply Chain Characteristics
Seasonality Profile 11
Because baby food is made with a variety of fruit, vegetables, meat, and grains, its seasonality depends on the seasonality of its main ingredients.
Way Exported
No typical export methods were located for this product.
Shipping pattern into US
No typical shipping patterns into the US were located for this product.
Typical Packaging 12
Baby food is typically packaged in pouches, jars, and plastic containers.
Food Safety and Defense
Typical Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) 13
| Hazard | Common Controls | Production/Processing Step |
|---|
Key Activity Type - Coating/Mixing/Grinding/Rework (2014) 14
Yes - coating/mixing/grinding/rework, ingredient staging/prep/addition, liquid receiving/loading, and liquid storage/hold/surge tanks
Key Activity Type - Ingredient Staging/Prep/Addition (2014) 14
Yes
Key Activity Type - Liquid Receiving/Loading (2014) 14
Yes
Key Activity Type - Liquid Storage/Hold/Surge Tanks (2014) 14
Yes
Recall history (2016) 15
There have been two recalls of baby food in the past five years, both from the same company, Plum Organics. One was because the plastic spouts on the package could break and become a choking hazard and the other was because of spoilage. Some recalls in the past five years have been due to possible or confirmed Clostridium botulinum presence.
Foodborne illness pathogens
List of past EMA adulterants 16
Stolen and re-sold baby food, non-authentic brand baby food
Current issues (2014) 17
In the past five years, baby food sales have been steadily declining, possibly due to parents making their own food at home. As a result, some baby food brand are redesigning their marketing to appeal to new trends, including selling food in pouches for increased convenience on the go. More organic baby food brands have also emerged recently.
Food Defense Incidents (2019) 18
|
Type of incident
EMA
Number of illnesses
0
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
2002
Year Ended
2003 |
Incident summary
Stolen baby food and infant formula were discovered during a raid of a warehouse in Ohio by authorities. The raid occurred during the course of an investigation into allegations of individuals receiving and distributing stolen property. Large quantities of brand-name infant formula were discovered, as well as evidence of changes to the use by date and repackaging materials.
Adulterated food product(s)
infant formula
Affected food product(s)
baby food, infant formula
Originated location(s)
United States
Harm location(s)
United States |
|
Type of incident
Terrorism
Number of illnesses
0
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
2004
Year Ended
2004 |
Incident summary
In July 2004, small amounts of ricin were found in two jars of Gerber Banana Yogurt Dessert purchased at a supermarket in Irvine, California. The baby food contained ground-up castor beans, from which ricin is derived, but not the purified toxin itself. Because castor beans are much less potent than pure ricin, neither baby experienced illness despite ingesting the product. Parents found notes attached to the baby food jars warning them of the adulteration after their babies had eaten the food. The name of an Irvine police officer was listed on the note, which officials think was an attempt to implicate him in the adulteration.Authorities believe this was related to 2 similar incidents involving ricin and Gerber baby food in Irvine, which occurred in May and June of 2004.
Adulterated food product(s)
baby food
Affected food product(s)
baby food
Originated location(s)
United States
Harm location(s)
United States |
|
Type of incident
Sabotage
Number of illnesses
1
Number of deaths
0
Year Began
1989
Year Ended
1989 |
Incident summary
Razor blades, pins, caustic soda and silvers of glass were found in baby food. The affected companies from this adulteration were H.J. Heinz and Cow and Gate. Only one baby got injured after this incident but no deaths were reported. This incident was likely tied to a threat made when man informed H.J. Heinz Company that if they didnt pay him 1.7 million dollars, he would contaminate their products. One month later a farmers wife reported that she found a pin and caustic acid in her babys food with a note stating that the package was poisoned and that three more on the shelf contained poisonous and hazardous materials.
Adulterated food product(s)
baby food
Affected food product(s)
baby food
Originated location(s)
United Kingdom
Harm location(s)
United Kingdom |
Sources
- WebMD- Starter Guide to Baby Food & Nutrition. (2014, October 3).
- FDA Product Code Builder.
- United States International Trade Commission - Harmonized Tariff Schedule. (2015).
- United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service - National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. (2015, September).
- CODEX Alimentarius - International Food Standards. (2016).
- Code of Federal Regulations - Food Standards, 21 C.F.R. ยง 130.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Grades and Standards. (2016).
- United States Department of Agriculture - Global Agricultural Trade System. (2016). Retrieved from http://apps.fas.usda.gov/gats/default.aspx
- United States Department of Agriculture - Global Agricultural Trade System.
- United States International Trade Commission - AD/CVD Orders. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/731_ad_701_cvd/investigations/active/index.htm
- Nona Brooklyn- Pure, Pureed: Greenpoint's Farm to Baby Delivers Seasonal, Locally-Grown, Farm-Fresh Baby Food. (2012). Retrieved from http://nonabrooklyn.com/pure-pureed-greenpoint%E2%80%99s-farm-to-baby-delivers-seasonal-locally-grown-farm-fresh-baby-food/#.V8CIqfkrLcs
- Beech Nut- Our Products. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.beechnut.com/foods/ Gerber- Baby Food. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.gerber.com/products/baby-food Gualapack- Baby food packaging. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gualapack.com/en/baby-food-packaging-baby-food-pouch
- SPXFlow- Fruit, Vegetable and Meat Baby Foods. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.spxflow.com/en/apv/industries/processed-foods/baby-food/baby-food-wet/
- Appendix 4 - Evaluation of Food Manufactured, Processed, Packed, or Held On-farm for Risk of Intentional Adulteration. (2014). Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodScienceResearch/RiskSafetyAssessment/UCM377408.pdf
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Archive for Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ArchiveRecalls/default.htm
- Food Protection and Defense Institute - EMA Incidents Database. (2016).
- The New York Times- As Parents Make Their Own Baby Food, Industry Tries to Adapt. (2014, April 25). Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/26/business/as-parents-make-their-own-industry-tries-to-adapt.html?_r=1
- Food Protection and Defense Institute - Food Defense Incidents Database.