Source: The WISEcode Standard v1.0, Sections 2.3 and 2.3.1.
The short answer
The WISEcode Standard does not apply to infant formula. Infant formula is a specialized medical-nutrition product designed and regulated to be the sole or partial source of nutrition for infants — and applying a general consumer-food processing score to it would be misleading.
What the Standard says
Section 2.3 establishes that the Standard applies "exclusively to the categorization of general consumer food products based on their level of processing." It explicitly excludes categories whose "formulation requirements, regulatory frameworks, or intended uses differ fundamentally from general consumer foods."
Section 2.3.1 then lists three excluded specialized-nutrition categories:
- Infant Formula — products intended for consumption by infants (0–12 months) as a partial or sole source of nutrition.
- Medical Foods — foods formulated to be consumed or administered under physician supervision for the dietary management of a disease or condition (for example, enteral formulas or metabolic-disorder meal replacements).
- Formulated Liquid Diets — products intended as the sole source of nutrition for patients with limited capacity to consume or absorb ordinary foods.
Why this exclusion exists
- Infant formula is engineered to do a different job. It has to deliver complete nutrition — macronutrients, vitamins, minerals — for a developing infant. That requires fortification, emulsification, and ingredient combinations that would be flagged as "processing" in a general consumer food but are essential here.
- It's regulated under a different framework. Infant formula in the U.S. is governed by the Infant Formula Act and FDA-specific rules that don't apply to ordinary packaged foods.
- The Wc-UPF score is designed for choice contexts. It's meant to help you choose between a cereal and a different cereal — not to evaluate whether a specialized medical product is doing its specialized medical job.
What you'll see in the WISEcode App
If you scan an infant formula, you'll get a notice that the WISEcode Standard does not apply — not a Wc-UPF score. The same applies to medical foods, formulated liquid diets, dietary supplements, animal feed, and unpackaged raw produce, per Section 2.3.
If you have questions about infant nutrition
Please consult your pediatrician or a registered dietitian. Decisions about infant feeding should always be made with qualified clinical guidance.
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