New Government report confirms benefits of introducing eggs early in weaning

A new report confirms that allergenic foods, including hen’s eggs, can be introduced to a child’s diet from around 6 months of age. ‘Feeding in the first year of life’ from The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) was published on 17 July and gives recommendations based on the latest nutrition science.

The report considered existing evidence on infant feeding, the introduction of solid foods and diversification of the infant diet – recommending that advice on complementary feeding should state that foods containing peanut and hen’s egg can be introduced from around 6 months of age and need not be differentiated from other solid foods. Importantly it also noted that the deliberate exclusion of eggs beyond 6 to 12 months of age may increase the risk of allergy and once initial exposure has occurred, then it should be maintained otherwise the risk of allergy may be increased.

The report also highlighted the revised advice from the Food Standards Agency (October 2017)ⁱ, which means that infants and other vulnerable groups can now safely eat raw or lightly cooked hen eggs as long as they are from the British Lion quality scheme. 

The report also considered attitudes towards solid foods among mothers, using data from the Infant Feeding Survey 2010ⁱⁱ which found that nearly half of mothers mentioned not giving their infants particular foods at 8-10 months. Despite the confirmed nutrient rich properties of eggs, 12% of mothers said they avoided giving their infants eggs, and 73% reported giving them less than once per week.

Dr Juliet Gray, registered nutritionist, said: “The report is very welcome, as it clarifies that eggs need not be avoided and their introduction should not be delayed, and we know from previous research that many mothers delay egg introduction during weaning. Eggs are a nutritious food, containing many key nutrients including high quality protein, vitamin D, selenium, iodine, choline, and omega-3 fatty acids, nutrients that are particularly important for babies. These nutritional benefits and our increasing knowledge about the appropriate timing ofintroduction of potentially allergenic foods together underline the importance of offering eggs to babies early in the weaning process.”

For further information please contact the British Egg Information Service on 020 7052 8899

Notes to editors

To access the full article visit gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/725530/SACN_report_on_Feeding_in_the_First_Year_of_Life.pdf

ⁱFSA (Food Standards Agency) (2017) New advice on eating runny eggs. Available at: food.gov.uk/news-updates/news/2017/16597/new-advice-on-eating-runny-eggs

ⁱⁱMcAndrew F, Thompson J, Fellows L, Large A, Speed M & Renfrew M (2012), Infant Feeding Survey 2010. Leeds: Health and Social Care Information Centre. Available at: digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/infant-feedingsurvey/infant-feeding-survey-uk-2010

ⁱⁱⁱDepartment of Health recommendations. Available at: https://www.egginfo.co.uk/egg-safety/advice-mums-and-babies