Not-for-profit remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) has reaffirmed its commitment to the health and wellbeing of children and families in remote First Nations communities, with a major update to its infant and toddler food range across all stores.
Driven by CEQ’s vision of Caring, Every Day, Always, the update follows a comprehensive review led by CEQ’s nutrition and buying teams and prioritised by the CEQ Board to ensure babies and young children have better access to healthier food options from their very first bites.
“The updated range focuses on nutritious, iron-rich, and lower-sugar options that support early development – such as meat-based meals, iron-fortified cereals, and vegetable-based meals – while reducing the shelf presence of products high in added sugars, such as sweetened custards and fruit-based purees,” according CEQ.
CEQ Nutrition and Health Manager Melinda Hammond says the changes reflect CEQ’s ongoing dedication to improving health outcomes in remote Indigenous communities across North Queensland.
“A healthy start in life begins with good nutrition – and that’s something we take seriously,” says Ms Hammond.
“We know that early childhood nutrition lays the foundation for lifelong health, and our Board made it clear that supporting babies’ health and development is a top priority.
“These changes to our baby food range are about giving parents better options and cutting through the confusion on the shelves.”
CEQ’s review is also aligned with advocacy from the Food for Health Alliance, which continues to call for stronger national regulation and greater transparency in the labelling and formulation of infant and toddler foods.
With current Australian laws placing no limits on added sugars in baby and toddler food, CEQ’s review recognises that as many as 72 per cent of products in this category don’t meet international nutrition standards and many contain unhealthy sugars from fruit concentrates, purees, and syrups – despite often featuring ‘healthy’ imagery and claims.
“We’re making it easier for families to make healthier choices, and that includes making sure the most nutritious options are easier to find and more visible on our shelves,” says CEQ Chief Executive Officer Michael Dykes.
“This is just one of the many ways we’re putting our vision of Caring, Every Day, Always into practice – by listening to the evidence, prioritising community wellbeing, and supporting the health of the next generation.”
CEQ is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Cape York Peninsula and in Doomadgee and on Palm Island through its 31 stores.
CEQ manages the Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) stores, as well as other stores including Col Jones and Community Home and Hardware, and Mona’s Bazaar and Mitre 10 on Waibene.
