Powdered drink mixes widely promoted as “baby milk” for older infants and children up to age 3 are unregulated, unnecessary and “nutritionally incomplete,” the American Academy of Pediatrics warned today. Friday.
The drinks, touted to parents on TikTok, in television commercials and on other websites, often contain added sugar and salt.
Manufacturers make unproven claims that the drink boosts a child’s brain or immune system, said Dr. George Fuchs, a member of the AAP’s nutrition committee, issued the new report.
Formula industry officials said the drink could be useful to fill “nutritional gaps” in children’s diets. But Fuchs says babies and older children should be fed a balanced diet of solid foods, as well as drinking breast milk, fortified cow’s milk and water after age 1.
Here are other things you need to know about so-called baby milk:
WHAT IS “CHILDREN’S MILK?”
Powdered milk mixes are sold in cans and are made to be mixed with water. It is often produced by the makers of leading brand infant formulas, packaged with similar labels and sold in the same store aisles.
This product is usually marketed for babies older than 6 to 12 months and preschool children up to 3 years of age as a nutritious drink for the next stage of development.
Pediatricians are issuing warnings about so-called “kids’ drinks,” which they say often contain added sugar and salt. Wilfredo Lee/AP
ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL BABY FORMULA?
yes. Infant formula is regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration and must meet certain nutritional requirements as a substitute for breast milk for infants up to 12 months. The facility where infant formula is made is regularly inspected.
There are no federal regulations governing formula milk for older infants and toddlers.
Also, children’s drinks are different from medical formulas that are prescribed for certain conditions, such as heart disease or problems digesting certain foods.
WHY ARE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS CONCERNED?
Fuchs and other experts point to a lack of common standards for baby milk, which means ingredients vary widely between brands.
Most contain added sugar and are targeted at children who are at an age when they may develop a lasting sweet tooth, possibly leading to obesity and other diseases.
“It could be called a gateway sweet drink,” says Frances Fleming-Milici, director of marketing initiatives and research professor with the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health at the University of Connecticut.
Children’s milk is also more expensive than cow’s milk, experts say.
“It’s not only not as good as cow’s milk and a balanced diet, it’s worse,” said Fuchs, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Kentucky.
There are no federal regulations governing formula milk for older infants and toddlers. AP
WHAT ABOUT MARKETING?
Infant milk is widely advertised, and sales have soared in recent years, from $39 million in 2006 to $92 million in 2015, according to a 2020 study.
Fleming-Milici said the company promoted the product in a way that could lead parents to believe the drink was nutritionally necessary.
“They look like baby formula,” she said. “Parents really trust the formula they’re using on their kids.”
In one study, 60% of caregivers of young children said they believed the drink provided nutrition that children would not get from other foods.
WHAT DOES THE COMPANY SAY?
Infant formula is explicitly labeled for children over 12 months of age and “can contribute to nutritional intake and potentially fill nutritional gaps,” according to the American Council on Infant Nutrition. Members of the trade group are leading manufacturers of infant formulas and drinks, including Abbott Nutrition, Perrigo Nutrition and Reckitt.
Children’s milk is more expensive than cow’s milk, according to experts.
WHAT SHOULD THE FAMILY DO?
Families and health care providers should be better educated about infant milk, which “does not have a specific role in the routine care of a healthy child,” the AAP says.
The group also wants requirements to ensure products are not linked to controlled infant formula or sold alongside formula. Health groups have petitioned the FDA in 2020 to regulate infant formula, but the agency is still reviewing the request.
Families who want to make sure babies and older children get the nutrition they need should rely on whole grains and fortified milk, protein, and fruits and vegetables, Fuchs said.
The Associated Press Department of Health and Science receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science and Education Media Group. AP is solely responsible for all content.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
