ﺍﻟﻌﺭﺒﻴﺔ ﺍﻟﺨﻠﻴﺞ ﻟﺩﻭل ﺍﻟﺘﻌﺎﻭﻥ ﻤﺠﻠﺱ ﻟﺩﻭل ﺍﻟﺘﻘﻴﻴﺱ  ﻫﻴﺌﺔ   
STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION FOR G.C.C (GSO) 
 
    
ﻣﺸﺮوع: ﻧﻬﺎﺋﻲ 
 
  
  
  
GSO 5/FDS….. /2009  
 
 
  
ﻭﺍﻷﻁﻔﺎل  ﻟﻠﺭﻀﻊ ﺍﻟﺘﻜﻤﻴﻠﻴﺔ  ﺍﻟﺤﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ  ﺍﻷﻏﺫﻴﺔ   
FOLLOW UP FORMULA” 
COMPLEMENTARY FOODS BASED ON MILK 
FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN 
“FOLLOW UP FORMULA” 
 
   
إﻋﺪاد   
  
  
اﻟﻤﻨﺘﺠﺎت  ﻣﻮاﺻﻔﺎت  ﻟﻘﻄﺎع اﻟﺨﻠﻴﺠﻴﺔ  اﻟﻔﻨﻴﺔ اﻟﻠﺠﻨﺔ  ﻭﺍﻟﺯﺭﺍﻋﻴﺔ  ﺍﻟﻐﺫﺍﺌﻴﺔ   
  
 
 
 ﺒﺸﺄﻨﻬﺎ،  ﻭﺍﻟﻤﻼﺤﻅﺎﺕ  ﺍﻟﺭﺃﻱ ﻹﺒﺩﺍﺀ ﺘﻭﺯﻴﻌﻬﺎ  ﺘﻡ ﺨﻠﻴﺠﻴﺔ ﻗﻴﺎﺴﻴﺔ ﻟﻤﻭﺍﺼﻔﺔ  ﻤﺸﺭﻭﻉ  ﺍﻟﻭﺜﻴﻘﺔ ﻫﺫﻩ
ﻗﻴﺎ ﻜﻤﻭﺍﺼﻔﺔ  ﺇﻟﻴﻬﺎ ﺍﻟﺭﺠﻭﻉ  ﻴﺠﻭﺯ ﻭﻻ ﻭﺍﻟﺘﺒﺩﻴل،  ﻟﻠﺘﻐﻴﻴﺭ ﻋﺭﻀﺔ ﻓﺈﻨﻬﺎ ﻟﺫﻟﻙ  ﺒﻌﺩ ﺇﻻ ﺨﻠﻴﺠﻴﺔ ﺴﻴﺔ
ﺍﻟﺨﻠﻴﺠﻴﺔ  ﺍﻟﻬﻴﺌﺔ ﺇﺩﺍﺭﺓ ﻤﺠﻠﺱ ﻤﻥ ﺍﻋﺘﻤﺎﺩﻫﺎ  .  
    
 
  
  
    
Foreword  
  
    
  
 
 
 
Standardization Organization for GCC (GSO) is a regional Organization 
which consists of the National Standa rds Bodies of GCC member States. 
One of GSO main functions is to issue Gulf Standards /Technical regulation 
through specialized tec hnical committees (TCs).  
 
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No 5  "  The Gulf 
Technical Committee for Food and Ag ricultural Standards Products" has 
prepared this Standard .  The Draft Standard has been prepared by 
(KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA      )  
 
 The draft Standard has been pr epared based on relevant ADMO, 
International and National fore ign Standards and references.  
 
This standard has been approved as Gulf (Standard / Te chnical Regulation)   
by GSO Board of Directors in its meeting No ..../....  …….held on    /    /   /  
H ,  /    /   G  
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
“FOLLOW UP FORMULA” 
COMPLEMENTARY FOODS BASED ON MILK 
FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN 
 
“FOLLOW UP FORMULA” 
1- SCOPE AND FIELD OF APPLICATION 
This standard is concerned with complementary foods based on milk for 
infants and children in liquid or powdered form. It does not apply to foods which are mother’s milk substitute and are used from the birth which are 
covered by 
GSO  standard for infant foods based on milk. 
2- COMPLEMENTARY REFERENCES 
2.1 GSO 9  “Labelling of Prepackaged Foods”. 
2.2 GSO...  “Hermetically Sealed Round Tin Cans Used for Canning Foodstuffs”. 
2.3 GSO180  “Methods of Sampling for Plant Baby Foods”. 
2.4 GSO181  “Chemical Methods of Test for Plant Baby Foods”. 
2.5 GSO21  “Hygienic Regulations for Food Plants and Their Personnel”. 
2.6 GSO...  “Methods of Determination of Minerals in Plant Baby Foods”. 
2.7 GSO22  “Methods of Test for Colouring Matter Used in Foodstuffs”. 
2.8 GSO223  “Requirements for Breast Milk Substitutes”. 
2.9 GSO...  “Methods of Determination of Vitamins in Plant Baby Foods”. 
2.10 GSO150  “Expiration Periods for Food Products – Part 1”. 
2.11 GSO287  “Microbiology - General Guidance on Methods for the Detection of 
Salmonella”. 
2.12 GSO590  “Microbiological Methods of Food Examination - Part III Commercial 
Sterility Test”. 
2.13 GSO382  “Maximum Limits for Pesticides Residues in Agricultural Food Products, 
First Series”. 
2.14 GSO383  “Maximum Limits for Pesticides Residues in Agricultural Food Products, 
Second Series”. 
2.15 GSO... Methods of Determination of Maximum Limits for Pesticides Residues in 
Food Products”. 
2.16 GSO407  “Microbiology - General Guidance for Enumeration of Coliforms - 
Colony Count Technique at 30 Degrees C”. 
2.17 GSO409  “Microbiology - General Guidance for Microorganisms - Colony Count 
Technique at 30 Degrees C”. 
2.18 GSO841  “Maximum Limits of Mycotoxins Permitted in Foods and Animal Feeds - 
Aflatoxins”. 2.19 GSO793  “Methods of Test for Infant Formula Based on Milk - Determination of 
Pantothenic Acid”. 
2.20 GSO… “Methods of Determination of Maximum Limits of Mycotoxins Permitted 
in Foods and Animal Feeds - Aflatoxins”. 
2.21 GSO998  “Methods for Detection of Permissible Radionuclides Limits in 
Foodstuffs - Part 1: Gamma Spectrometry Analysis - A-Cs-134, Cs-137”. 
2.22 GSO988  “Limits of Radioactivity Levels Permitted in Foodstuffs - Part 1”. 
2.23 GSO...  “Methods of Test for Infant Foods Based on Milk - Determination of 
Vitamin E ( tocopherol)”. 
2.24 GSO...  “Methods of Test for Infant Foods Based on Milk - Determination of Folic 
Acid Content” which will be approved by GSO . 
2.25 GSO...  “Methods of Test for Infant Foods Based on Milk - Determination of Biotin 
Content” which will be approved by GSO . 
2.26 GSO...  “Methods of Test for Infant Foods Based on Milk - Determination of 
Vitamin K Content” which will be approved by GSO . 
2.27 GSO...  “Methods of Test for Infant Foods Based on Milk - Determination of 
Potassium, Phosphorous and Magnesium Content” which will be approved by GSO . 
2.28 GSO...  “Methods of Detection of Hormones and Antibiotics in Foods”. 
3- DEFINITIONS 
3.1 Complementary Foods Based on Milk (Follow Up Formula): Foods based on 
milk prepared as a complement to breast milk and intended for use during 
weaning period for the infant from 6th month on and children. 
3.2 Infant: means a person of not more than 12 months of age. 3.3 Child: means a person from the age of more than 12 months up to the age of 
three years (36 months). 
4- REQUIREMENTS 
The following requirements shall be met in infant foods based on milk:- 
4.1 The product must be completely free from pig products or their derivatives. 
4.2 All ingredients used in the production shall be of high quality, suitable for digestion by infants and complying with relevant Saudi Standards. 
4.3 The product shall be manufactured in an officially certified hygienic plant and 
complying with the requirements mentioned in 
GSO  (item 2.2). 
4.4 The product shall be white, greenish white or creamy white in color. 
4.5 The product texture shall be uniform in appearance and free from lumps. 
4.6 The product shall be completely free from preservative, added colors and artificial sweeteners. 
4.7 The flavor shall be natural and free from rancidity and off-flavors. 
4.8 The product shall be free from residues of hormones, antibiotics impurities and objectionable matter. 4.9 The energy content shall not be less than 250 K Joules and not more than 355 
K Joules per 100 ml of the ready-for-consumption product. 
4.10 The moisture content of dry products shall not be more than 4.5%. 4.11 Protein content shall not be less than 0.7 g and not more than 1.3 g/100 K Joules. 
The quality of protein shall not be less than 85% of that of casein. 4.12 The fat content shall not be less than 0.7 g/100 K Joules and not more than 1.4 
g/100 K Joules Linoleic acid content shall be not less than 71.7 mg/100 K Joules. 
4.13 Essential amino acids may be added to improve protein quality, only in 
amounts necessary for that purpose. Only L forms of amino acids shall be used. 
4.14 The product shall contain nutritionally available carbohydrates suitable for 
feeding of older infants and young children in such quantities to adjust the energy density in accordance with item 4.9. 
4.15 Vitamins content per 100 K Joules shall not be less than the following: 
 
60-180 I.U.  Vitamin A  
 (Carotene)  
10 Ug  Vitamin B1 
 (Thiamine)  
14 Ug  Vitamine B2 
 (Riboflavine)  
11 Ug  Vitamin B6 
 (Pyridoxine)  
0.04 Ug  Vitamin B12 
 (Cobalmine)  
1.9 mg Vitamin C  
 (Ascorbic acid)  
0.15 I.U.  Vitamin E  
 (-tocopherol comp.)  
60 Ug  Niacin  
 (Nicotinamide acid)  
70 Ug  Pantothenic acid  
0.4 Ug  Biotin  
1 Ug  Folic acid  
1 Ug  Vitamin K1 
10 - 30 I.U or  Vitamin D  
0.25 - 0.75 Ug  (Calciferol)  
NOTE: 1 Kilo Joule equal to 0.239 Kilo Calorie). 
4.16 The mineral content per 100/K Joules shall be as follows: 
 
5 mg (min) 21 mg (max)  -Sodium (Na)  20 mg  -Potassium (K) (min.)  
14 mg  -Chloride (CI) (min.)  
0.25 mg (min) 0.50 mg 
(max)  -Iron (Fe) (min.)  
1.4 mg  -Magnesium (Mg) (min.)  
1.2 Ug  -Iodine (I) (min.)  
22 mg -Calcium (Ca) (min.)  
14 mg -Phosphorous (P) (min.)  
0.12 mg -Zinc (Zn) (min.)  
 
4.17 The calcium phosphorous ratio shall not be less than 1.0 and not more than 2.0. 
4.18 Toxic elements in ready to use product shall not exceed the following limits (PPM):-  
0.02 0.02  Mercury 
Lead  
0.05  Cadmium 
50  Tin  
4.19 Pesticides residues in ready to use product shall not be more than what is mentioned 
in 
GSO  (items 2.13, 2.14). 
4.20 The limits of radioactivity levels  shall not exceed those mentioned in GSO  to be 
approved by GSO  (item 2.22). 
4.21 Aflatoxins limits shall not  exceed the limits stated in GSO  to be approved by GSO  
(item 2.18). 
4.22 Microbiological limits shall not exceed the following: 
4.22.1 Dried products.  
Limits per ml or gram  
Micro-organisms  
n           c           m          M  
5  1  104  105  Aerobic plate count  
5  1  10  102  Coliforms  
60  0  0  - Salmonella  
 
 Where: n = Number of sample units to be examined. 
m = Value of level of microbiological cr iterion to be met in food product. 
c = The maximum number of sample units allowed to have microbiological criterion value. 
M = The maximum criterion value that should not achieved or exceeded in any of n units. 
4.22.2 Liquid products 
They shall pass a commercial sterility test. 
4.23 Food Additives The following food additives are permitted with the restrictions stated below 
and on a basis of 100 ml of the ready for consumption food (as a maximum 
limit): 4.23.1 Thickening Agents 
- Guar Gum                   
0.1 gm 
- Locust Gum                0.1 gm  
- Carrageenan               0.03 g 
- Pectin                         1 g 
4.23.2 Emulsifiers - Lecithin                     0.5 g 
- Mono and diglcerides 0.4 g 
 4.23.3 pH Adjusting Agents 
 
  
      Sodium hydrogen 
carbonate 
        - Potassium hydrogen 
carbonate 
Limited by good  
        - Sodium carbonate 
manufacturing practices       - Potassium carbonate 
within the limits for       - Sodium hydroxide 
Na and K given in item       Potassium hydroxide 
4.16       - Calcium hydroxide 
         
         
          
        - Sodium citrate 
        - Potassium citrate 
Limited by good       - L(+) Lactic acid 
manufacturing practices       - (+) Lactic acid 
producing 
        cultures 
        - Citric acid 
4.23.4 Antioxidants 3 mg singular or in combination  
 
        Mixed tocopherol 
concentrate  
  
        Tocopherol  
  
          
5 mg singly or in combination  
        - L-Ascorbyl palmitate  
  
expressed as ascorbic acid 
 (see item 4.16)  
 
        L-Ascorbic acid and its 
Na, Ca salts  
 
   
          
 
4.23.5 Flavours 
 
GMP -Natural fruit extracts  
GMP -Vanilla extract  
5 mg 5 mg -Ethyl vanillin -Vanillin  
 
4.24 The product and its components shall not have been treated by ionizing 
radiation. 
5- SAMPLING 
Samples shall be drawn in accordance with that mentioned in (item 2.3). 
6- METHODS OF TESTING AND TESTS 
6.1 Methods of Testing 
- Chemical tests shall be carried out according to GSO  (item 2.4). 
- Detection of artificial colouring matter shall carried out in accordance with 
GSO  Standard (item 2.7). 
- Determination of minerals shall be carried out according to GSO  (item 2.6) 
and GSO  to be approved by GSO  (item 2.27). 
- Determination of pesticides residues shall be carried out according to GSO  
Standard to be approved by GSO  (item 2.15). 
- Detection of hormones, antibiotics and aflatoxins shall be carried out 
according to GSO  Standards to be approved by GSO  (item 2.28). 
- Vitamins shall be determined according to GSO  (item 2.9) and  GSO  
Standards to be approved by  GSO  (items 2.23, 2.19, 2.24, 2.25, 2.26). 
- Detection of limits of radioactivity le vels shall be carried out according to 
GSO  Standard (item 2.22). - Microbiological tests shall be  carried out according to GSO  Standards 
(items 2.11, 2.12, 2.16, 2.17). 
6.2 Tests 
Tests shall be carried out in the repres entative samples drawn according to item 
(5) to determine compliance with limits of this standard. 
7- PACKAGING, TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE 
The following shall be taken into consideration during packaging, 
transportation and storage of the product: 
7.1 It shall be packed in hygienic, hermetically sealed containers, nitrogen or 
carbon dioxide may be used as packing media. 7.2 Containers shall be designed to fac ilitate easy opening sealing, handling and 
despersing. They shall be impervious to moisture an d gases and resistant to 
corrosion and rust. 7.3 In the case of product in ready to drink form the fill of container shall be: 
7.3.1 Not less than 80% of the water capacity of the container (v/v) for products 
weighing 150 g. 7.3.2 Not less than 85% of the water capacity of the container (v/v) for products 
weighing 150-250 g. 
7.3.3 Not less than 90% of the water capacity of the container (v/v) for products weighing more than 250 g. 
7.4 When using tin cans they shall have a suitable internal enamel and shall 
comply with the Saudi standard (item 2.2). 7.5 The product shall be transported in a suitable means of transport in a way that 
preserves the product from mechanical spoilage and contamination, at a 
temperature not higher than 25
oC. 
7.6 The product shall be stored in well-ventilated stores away from sources of 
contamination and heat, at a temperature not higher than 25 oC. 
8- LABELLING 
Without prejudice to what is mentioned in GSO  Standard (item 2.1) and GSO  
(item 2.8) and GSO  (item 2.10) the following shall be declared:- 
8.1 Name of the product (follow-up milk formula based on milk). 
8.2 In case of concentrated product the following must be printed on the label 
(concentrated-use after dilution). 
8.3 The amount of energy (calorific value) expressed in Kilojoules (KJ) and/or Calories (Kcal) per 100 g of the food as sold as well as pe r specified quantity 
of the food as suggested for consumption. 
8.4 The number of grammes of protein, carbohydrate and fat per 100 g of the food as sold as well as per specified quantity of the food suggested for consumption. 
The declaration per 100 kilojoules (or 100 calories “Kcal”) is permitted. 
8.5 The total quantity of each vitamin, mineral, and any optional ingredients per 100 g of product as sold as well as per specified quantity of the food as suggested for consumption. The declaration per 100 Kilojoules (or 100 
calories “Kcal)” 
8.6 Direction for storage preparation and use of the food as well as for storage after opening. Possible health hazards when product prepar ation is inadequate must 
also be highlighted. 8.7 The following statements: 
8.7.1 “Mothers milk is preferred to other baby milk foods during the first six months of    
life”. 
8.7.2 “The product shall not be introdu ced before the 6th month of life”. 
8.7.3 “Water shall be boiled when reconstituting the product”. 
8.7.4 “Infants and children fed with the product shall receive other foods”.