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CEQ champions healthy start for First Nations infants with baby food range overhaul
[by Gavin Broomhead]
Georgia Day CEQ Nutrition & Health with Rohani Nona and Philicia Reimann. Image: supplied
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Driven by CEQ’s vision of Caring, Every Day, Always, the update follows a comprehensive review led by CEQ’s nutrition and buying teams and prioritised by the CEQ Board to ensure babies and young children have better access to healthier food options from their very first bites.
The updated range focuses on nutritious, iron-rich, and lower-sugar options that support early development – such as meat-based meals, iron-fortified cereals, and vegetable-based meals – while reducing the shelf presence of products high in added sugars, such as sweetened custards and fruit based purees.
CEQ Nutrition and Health Manager Melinda Hammond said the changes reflect CEQ’s ongoing dedication to improving health outcomes in remote Indigenous communities across North Queensland.
“A healthy start in life begins with good nutrition – and that’s something we take seriously,” Ms Hammond said.
“We know that early childhood nutrition lays the foundation for lifelong health, and our Board made it clear that supporting babies' health and development is a top priority.
“These changes to our baby food range are about giving parents better options and cutting through the confusion on the shelves.”
CEQ’s review is also aligned with advocacy from the Food for Health Alliance, which continues to call for stronger national regulation and greater transparency in the labelling and formulation of infant and toddler foods.
With current Australian laws placing no limits on added sugars in baby and toddler food, CEQ’s review recognises that as many as 72 per cent of products in this category don’t meet international nutrition standards and many contain unhealthy sugars from fruit concentrates, purees, and syrups – despite often featuring ‘healthy’ imagery and claims.
“We’re making it easier for families to make healthier choices, and that includes making sure the most nutritious options are easier to find and more visible on our shelves,” said CEQ Chief Executive Officer Michael Dykes.
“This is just one of the many ways we’re putting our vision of Caring, Every Day, Always into practice – by listening to the evidence, prioritising community wellbeing, and supporting the health of the next generation.”
