World’s first coconut-based baby formula to be launched in Australia as expert issues stern warning to parents
The world’s first coconut-based baby food is launching this week, but some professionals have urged parents to consult their GP before making the switch.
Ingrid Roche, a certified pediatric allergy dietitian, warned parents to consider their little one’s health before buying Coco2 when it hits the market on Friday.
Developed in south-east Queensland in response to growing demand for plant-based products, Coco2 claims to be the world’s first coconut-based baby food.
Ms Roche said while all baby food sold in Australia must meet a strict set of standards, this does not necessarily mean babies will “absorb all these nutrients”.
‘As a professional I would wait for that [a] growth study to come out before I went out and recommended this formula to a family who wanted to give that to their baby,” she shared 7News.
‘Some babies have very high nutritional needs and we know that (certain) formula is good for the growth of some children who have very high nutritional needs.’
Coco2 general manager Nicholas Bouchaia said the upcoming product is a good substitute for children who are lactose intolerant, have cow’s milk protein allergies or dietary restrictions.
“Coco2 was born from the collaboration of parents, chemists and professors, combining personal experiences with scientific expertise,” he said.
Developed in south-east Queensland in response to growing demand for plant-based products, Coco2 claims to be the world’s first coconut-based baby food (pictured)
Coco2 claims its formula contains a “simplified protein and fat profile that closely mimics breast milk,” but professionals urged parents to consult their doctor before switching (stock)
“It has been in development for more than a decade with support from the University of Queensland.”
Coco2 claims the formula contains a ‘simplified protein and fat profile that closely mimics breast milk’ and is ‘nutritionally complete and enriched with all important minerals and vitamins’.
The company is currently completing a growth study on the coconut-based product.
For more information, parents of children with cow’s milk allergies were advised to read the Infant Feeding Guide on the Australasian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy website.
Allergy information can also be found on FoodAllergy Aware.
As for parents considering the switch to Coco2, Ms Roche recommended consulting their GP.