When it comes to children’s health, the fundamentals are simple: a balanced diet, good sleep and regular physical activity. In an ideal world, that would be enough. But sometimes, that’s easier said than done.

Many Australian children don’t meet recommendations for overall diet quality or key nutrients. Busy family routines, personal food preferences, and selective eating habits all play a role.

The most recent national data shows that the vast majority of Australian children are not meeting dietary recommendations. Results found 96% of those aged 2–17 did not meet the recommended daily serves of vegetables. Fruit intake is better but declines as children get older.

At the same time, around one-third of children’s daily energy intake comes from processed and ultra-processed foods such as sugary drinks and packaged snacks.

Just like with adults who may struggle to meet the recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals, supplements can support a healthy nutritional intake for children. For most children, dietary gaps are best addressed by gradually improving food variety and quality. Where that isn’t always possible, gummies are a palatable, easy to chew format that can play a role in supporting nutrient intake to help support general health and wellbeing.

Where supplements can play a role

Some children have diagnosed nutrient deficiencies and may benefit from targeted supplementation under the guidance of a health professional. Others may have restricted diets or be picky eaters, making it more difficult to meet all nutritional needs through food alone. In these cases, supplements like gummies may help to maintain adequate intake of vitamins and minerals in children whose dietary intake is inadequate.

Gummies: not a “treat”

Supplement gummies are often viewed differently to other formats because of how they look and taste. But they are not confectionery.

In Australia, they are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in the same way as other vitamin and mineral tablets and capsules. This means they must meet requirements for quality, safety, efficacy and responsible advertising.

An easy-to-consume gummy may be more appealing than a tablet or capsule, but for Australian products, the strict standards behind them remain the same.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about gummies from overseas. These products may not be regulated to the same Australian requirements for safety, quality and efficacy. That’s why it’s important to only buy vitamin/supplement gummies with an ‘AUST L’ number on the label. This means the product is subject to Australia’s strict standards, enforced by the TGA.

Why supplement format matters

Gummies are, ultimately, offer an easier way of taking a medicine, just like liquids and chewable tablets or capsules. For some people – particularly children – swallowing tablets or capsules can be difficult. Even adults may struggle to take tablets, or may experience ‘pill fatigue’ when taking multiple products. In these situations, gummies can make taking supplements more practical and easier to take on a regular basis.

Using supplements appropriately

Parents who are investing in their children’s health may find that gummies are useful when a supplement is needed, since kids are more likely to take them—so they don’t end up sitting unused or expiring in the cupboard.

As with any health product, the key is appropriate use. For parents, a few simple principles can help guide decisions:

• Focus on building a varied, balanced diet first
• Always choose products that are regulated in Australia: look for an AUST L number on the label (so you know the product meets Australian quality and safety standards and contains what it says it does)
• Remember that vitamin and mineral supplements should not replace a balanced diet.
• Always read the label and follow the directions for use
• Seek advice from a health professional if unsure
• Like all medicines, it is important they are stored safely out of children’s reach.

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