Russia tightens food safety rules for children's products in 2025

As of October 1, 2025, updated GOSTs for children's food products have come into force in Russia. The new standards concern composition, consistency, food safety, and labeling.

The main goal of the changes is to improve the quality of children's diet and reduce the risks of food allergies and intolerances.

However, as noted by Dr. Rustem Sadikov, a doctor of medical sciences, a gastroenterologist, a dietitian, and a clinical pharmacologist, GOSTs alone are not enough. It's important to understand which products are truly safe and beneficial for a child.

• Even the strictest standards do not guarantee that a specific product will be perfect for your child. A child's body is very individual, especially in those with existing signs of food sensitivity, lactose or gluten intolerance, or frequent abdominal pain, - notes Dr. Sadikov.

According to the new requirements, manufacturers must indicate a more complete composition, control the content of salt, sugar, trans fats, and use only approved additives. However, parents often forget that the key to gastrointestinal health is not only in the quality of the product but also in its combination, amount, and eating schedule.

• I regularly see children whose complaints of heaviness, bloating, or unstable stool are due to 'correct' products. The problem is not that the product is bad, but that the gastrointestinal tract cannot handle the load, especially in the morning or evening when fermentative activity is reduced, - explains the expert.

Dr. Sadikov emphasizes that the new GOSTs are an important step towards improving children's nutrition, but parents should pay attention not only to the labeling but also to their child's reaction: appetite, stool, skin condition, and energy level.

When to be alert and consult a doctor:

• The child frequently complains of abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea;
• There are signs of allergy (rash, itching, skin peeling after eating);
• The child is not gaining weight or, conversely, gaining weight rapidly;
• After consuming dairy or grain products, there are problems with digestion.

Each child has their own 'gastroenterological passport.' What is good for one may be harmful to another. Here, it's important not to blindly follow the label but to understand how the gastrointestinal tract of a specific child works.

The expert recommends that parents not rely solely on labels that say 'natural' or 'without additives,' but to read the composition carefully and consult a specialist if there are doubts, especially in children with chronic gastrointestinal diseases or a family history of food allergies.

Previously, we discussed what to do with **hyperactive children**.