The word ‘food’ refers to the chemical substances consumed by individuals in order to keep their body in a healthy and active condition. India is the world's second largest producer of food next to China and deemed to be potential of being biggest industry with food and agricultural sector contributing 26 per cent to Indian GDP. India, the world's largest health food drinks market, accounts for 22% of the world's retail volume sales. These drinks are traditionally consumed as milk substitutes and marketed as a nutritious drink, mainly consumed by the old, the young and the sick. The term infant means a person not more than 12 months of age. Infant foods are foods intended primarily for use during the normal infant's weaning period and also for the progressive adaptation of infants and children to ordinary food. They may be either in ready-to-eat form or in dry form requiring reconstitution with water only. After 4 years of age, a child's energy needs per kilogram of bodyweight are decreasing but the actual amount of energy (calories) required increases, as the child gets older. From 5 years to adolescence, there is a period of slow but steady growth.
