Objective To investigate the distribution of essential nutrients content of commercial follow-up formula for young children,especially with regard to the nutrients without maximum compositional requirements in China National Food Safety Standard GB 10767-2010 Follow-up Formula,and to provide future reference on national food safety standard revision. Methods Totally 1 591 follow-up formulas for young children were collected,and the distribution of 26 essential nutrients content were analyzed.For the 16 essential nutrients without maximum level in GB 10767,the maximum requirements were assumed as three or five times minimum compositional requirements in GB 10767,which were compared with nutrients contents respectively.The impact of assumed maximum level on commercial young children formula were discussed and evaluated. Results The distribution of essential nutrients content of commercial young children formula were balance in large extent.However,for some nutrients,protein,vitamin D and chlorine were in low distribution,iron,copper and sodium were in high distribution.For the 16 essential nutrients without maximum requirements,P₉₅/ three times GB minimum requirements were 0.78~2.79,and maximum value/ three times GB minimum requirement were 1.20~1 832.92;P₉₅/five times GB minimum requirement were 0.47~1.67,and maximum value/five times GB minimum requirement were 0.72~1 099.75. Conclusions In commercial young children formula,the content of essential nutrients without maximum requirements are normally three to five times GB minimum.Only a few nutrients in individual products are high.Therefore,it is suggested that the maximum compositional requirements on essential nutrients be considered in the future national food safety standard revision.