In May of this year, a giant infant formula company was confiscated of its illegal income of RMB 3.4374 million and fined RMB 9.0931 million due to the detection of a minute quantity of vanillin. In China, the infant milk powder is divided into infant formula (Stage 1), older formula (Stage 2) and young children formula (Stage 3). GB 2760 stipulates that vanillin and ethyl vanillin can be added to older infants and young children formulas at the max level of 5mg/100ml, no flavoring substance shall be added into any infant formulate food for use of the infants aged from 0 to six months.

Vanillin was originally extracted from vanilla, and currently it is mainly artificially synthesized. It is the most widely used and used flavor in the world. It is commonly found in dairy products, chocolate, ice cream, cakes, etc. Ethyl vanillin is artificially synthesized, similar in structure to natural vanillin, and has a stronger fragrance. There is no substantial difference in the safety of the two, and the usage limit in milk powder is also the same.


In China, the vanillin can be used in stage 2 & 3. After 6 months, babies gradually add various flavors of complementary foods, and it is not necessary to strictly limit the flavor of formulas. After 1 year old, children’s recipes are more complicated and gradually move closer to adults, and there is no need to restrict the introduction of various flavors. The international evaluation of the safe dosage of vanillin is that it is safe to not exceed 10 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, and has no adverse effects on various organs including the liver and kidneys.

The addition of vanillin to infant milk powder abroad is not much different from China. For example, international standards allow the use of vanillin in milk powders of stage 2 and above; Europe and the United States do not have any rigid restrictions on the use of vanillin; South Korea allows all infant milk powders including stage 1 to use vanillin.


Studies have shown that vanillin may affect the eating habits of infants. Picky eaters, anorexia, and preference for original tastes are normal for babies, and feeding requires repeated trials and adaptations. In addition, poor eating habits are often the result of unscientific feeding. When encountering such problems, it is best to consult a professional pediatrician or child care expert.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most infants. As an infant grows, breast milk changes to meet the infant’s nutritional needs. The WHO recommends exclusively breastfeeding for the first 6 months. Breast milk contains many vitamins, minerals, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins necessary for the proper development of the infant.