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First Specialised Nutrition World Congress
The first ever Specialised Nutrition World Congress is to be held on 17-18 March 2027 in Amsterdam. Initial speakers have…
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Specialised nutrition supports the health and wellbeing of people of all ages with special dietary needs
Specialised nutrition, also known as foods for special dietary uses (FSDU), comprises foods that are specially processed or formulated to satisfy particular dietary requirements, which may exist because of certain physical or physiological conditions and/or specific diseases and disorders. The composition of FSDU must differ significantly from ordinary foods of a comparable nature.
It includes maternal, infant and young child nutrition, foods for special medical purposes (FSMP), dietetic nutrition, sports foods and gluten-free foods.
Nutrition & Health
From the earliest stages of life to older age, good nutrition is central to growth, development, health and quality of life. Science-based special dietary foods help to prevent and manage nutritional deficiencies, and support the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations with special dietary needs around the world.
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Science & Regulation
Specialised nutrition relies on robust, science‑based regulatory frameworks to ensure safety, quality and fitness for purpose for vulnerable populations with special dietary needs. Internationally aligned standards, validated methods of analysis, scientific tools, and ongoing research and innovation underpin the development and regulation of safe and nutritious foods for special dietary uses.
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Responsible Business
Responsible practices are fundamental to the development and provision of special dietary foods that serve vulnerable populations. This includes ethical engagement with stakeholders, responsible and transparent marketing, support for public health goals and the provision of accurate, science‑based information, as well as ensuring sustainable practices across the value chain.
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First Specialised Nutrition World Congress
The first ever Specialised Nutrition World Congress is to be held on 17-18 March 2027 in Amsterdam. Initial speakers have…
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World Food Safety Day 2026: From burden to solutions – safe food everywhere
On World Food Safety Day, the International Special Dietary Foods Industries (ISDI) joins the global community in reaffirming a shared commitment to safe food for all.
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ISDI elects new Governing Board, announces Xavier Lavigne as new President
ISDI elected a new Governing Board at its General Assembly meeting on 24 February 2026.
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ISDI to work on a new ISO standard to address malnutrition in healthcare facilities
ISDI is supporting work on a new ISO standard for Malnutrition Prevention, Detection and Treatment, which will serve as a blueprint for the effective treatment of malnutrition in healthcare facilities worldwide.
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ISDI statement in response to UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report – ‘Feeding Profit: How food environments are failing children’
UNICEF’s 2025 Child Nutrition Report, published on 10 September 2025, raises important questions about the prevalence of malnutrition, particularly overweight and obesity, and the importance of food environments that provide nutritious and healthy foods.
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New one-stop-shop Test Methods website provides a comprehensive and authoritative guide to analytical methods for special dietary foods
The new ISDI website – Test Methods for Special Dietary Foods – provides a comprehensive guide to the most suitable analytical methods for determining nutrients in special dietary foods.
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ISDI factsheet – Ensuring the quality and safety of powdered infant formula from factory to feeding
Quality and safety are unequivocal priorities for infant formula manufacturers. Infant formula is the only suitable and evidence-based alternative when infants cannot be breastfed, and therefore must meet the highest safety expectations of regulators, health authorities and caregivers.
Manufacturers of infant formula continuously work to ensure the food safety and quality of their products
The quality and safety of infant formula is of utmost importance to manufacturers, particularly given that these products are intended for the most vulnerable population – infants.
ISDI comments on the WHO Guideline Development Group for so-called “ultra-processed foods”
ISDI responded to the call for comments on the provisional ‘WHO Guideline Development Group for ultra-processed foods’. Read them in full.
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