Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations

Betül Karapınar; Tuğba Demir

doi:10.51754/ejmhs.1852495

Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations

Abstract

Infant formulas and follow-up milks play a critical role in supporting growth and development during early childhood; however, excessive fortification or inaccurate labeling can lead to nutrient imbalances and safety concerns. This study evaluated the nutritional composition of sixteen commercially available products in Türkiye, including nine follow-up formulas and seven infant formulas, based on manufacturer-declared label information. All nutrient values were standardized to a 200 mL serving and compared with age-specific Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Adequate Intake (AI), and Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) values established by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Descriptive analyses and box plot visualizations were used to assess inter-product variability, with a focus on zinc, copper, and vitamin K due to their potential toxicity risks. Overall, most products contained nutrient levels well below UL thresholds, indicating a broad safety margin. However, notable variability was observed: zinc levels reached up to 91.7% of the infant RDA per 200 mL, suggesting that multiple servings could approach UL limits; one product reported copper levels equivalent to 636% of the infant RDA, likely representing a labeling error or formulation inconsistency; and vitamin K values exceeded 500% of AI in several brands, though no UL has been defined. These findings highlight inconsistencies in fortification strategies, nutrient content claims, and labeling accuracy, emphasizing the importance of regulatory harmonization, routine laboratory verification, and transparent reporting to ensure product safety and consumer trust.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Veterinary Sciences (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Betül Karapınar
0009-0004-7540-1033
Türkiye

Tuğba Demir ^*
0000-0002-5195-9372
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 2, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 10 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.51754/ejmhs.1852495

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA29JH63ND

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Karapınar, B., & Demir, T. (2025). Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences, 10(3), 188-198. https://doi.org/10.51754/ejmhs.1852495

AMA

1.Karapınar B, Demir T. Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations. Eur J Multidiscip Health Sci. 2025;10(3):188-198. doi:10.51754/ejmhs.1852495

Chicago

Karapınar, Betül, and Tuğba Demir. 2025. “Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations”. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences 10 (3): 188-98. https://doi.org/10.51754/ejmhs.1852495.

EndNote

Karapınar B, Demir T (December 1, 2025) Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences 10 3 188–198.

IEEE

[1]B. Karapınar and T. Demir, “Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations”, Eur J Multidiscip Health Sci, vol. 10, no. 3, pp. 188–198, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.51754/ejmhs.1852495.

ISNAD

Karapınar, Betül - Demir, Tuğba. “Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations”. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences 10/3 (December 1, 2025): 188-198. https://doi.org/10.51754/ejmhs.1852495.

JAMA

1.Karapınar B, Demir T. Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations. Eur J Multidiscip Health Sci. 2025;10:188–198.

MLA

Karapınar, Betül, and Tuğba Demir. “Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations”. European Journal of Multidisciplinary Health Sciences, vol. 10, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 188-9, doi:10.51754/ejmhs.1852495.

Vancouver

1.Betül Karapınar, Tuğba Demir. Evaluation of Nutrient Claims and Potential Health Risks of Follow-up Formulas Based on Label Declarations. Eur J Multidiscip Health Sci. 2025 Dec. 1;10(3):188-9. doi:10.51754/ejmhs.1852495