The baby food market - Italy

1.1 Introduction

The infant food market in Italy includes a wide range of food products specifically formulated for infant nutritional needs, are designed to provide the essential nutrients needed for healthy growth and development during this critical stage of life. The market includes:

• Homogenized foods: foods with ingredients that have been blended or pureed to facilitate infants' digestion and food intake.
• Foods intended for special feeding: infant formula, weaning milk and other foods for second infancy, baby food.

Before the 18th century, there were no official medical guidelines on complementary feeding. Baby food was prepared with water, milk, wine or beer and flavored with ingredients such as raisins, marigold and saffron. Over time, weaning practices have changed and a greater awareness of the links between nutrition and children's health has developed. The introduction of homogenized foods marked a turning point in the history of weaning, offering more convenient and safer food options for infants.[Matteosilva] Introduced in Italy around 1960 by Simmenthal, which produced them for Plasmon, the first jars of homogenized products were distributed in pharmacies. Within a few years, consumption expanded greatly and the sales channel expanded, not without controversy, to grocery stores and supermarkets.[Nutrisan]

The global baby food market was valued at over $88 billion in 2022, and is expected to expand at an annual growth rate(CARG) of 5.3% between 2023-2032.[Gminsights]