BDJ study shows some baby milk contains more sugar than Fanta
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- Published: Saturday, 04 April 2020 11:55
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An international study raises questions over sugar levels in formula baby milk which in some cases can be as much as twice that of Fanta, reports the Daily Telegraph. Researcher, Gemma Bridge, said the use of sweeteners not only encouraged more mothers to buy the products because babies liked them but also risked creating a preference for sweet tastes at a young age which could have a detrimental effect on future eating habits.
Data compiled by the researchers showed the highest was Abbott’s toddler drink go and grow for 12 months-plus, which had 9.8 grammes per 100 millilitres, followed by SMA’s Pro Growing up Milk Formula for 12 months-plus (8.2 grammes/100 ml) and HiPP’s organic follow on milk ready (8.1 grammes/100ml) for six to 12 months.
The study, published in the BDJ[i], was conducted by Gemma Bridge, of Leeds Beckett University, with Professor Raman Bedi, professor of transcultural oral health at King’s College, London and England’s former chief dental officer. Ms Bridge said breast milk is sweet and high in energy but the sugar it contains - as much as seven grammes - is naturally-occurring lactose which is specific to the needs of the growing infant.
“Conversely, infant formula milks have a standardised make-up and contain added sugars such as corn syrup which are added during production and are not found in breast milk,” she said. “This is bad for babies because high consumption of added sugars may contribute to tooth decay, poor diet and lead to obesity in children.”
Ready to drink formula milk for babies under 12 months - used by the 60 per cent of women who do not breastfeed - was found to contain as much as 8.7 grammes of added sugar per 100 millilitres of liquid, which compares with 4.6 grammes of sugar per 100 millilitres for Fanta. The 8.7 milligrammes -equivalent to two teaspoons of added sugar - also exceeds the European Parliament recommended limits for infants of 7.5 grammes per 100 millilitres.
The study said some manufacturers of formula milk also appeared to be flouting restrictions on the use of images of infants or graphics to promote and idealise their use. “The World Health Organization’s International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes stipulates that infant formula products should not be promoted over breastfeeding,” said Ms Bridges.
“But we found that many of the formulas had labels that included images of infants or cute toys of animals, presumably designed to entice caregivers into buying. Such findings are not unsurprising as there is evidence that harmful marketing strategies have been used extensively by infant formula and follow-on milk manufacturers.”
The baby milk manufacturers deny the claims. A spokesman for the British Specialist Nutrition Association told the Daily Telegraph: “UK formula is already highly regulated and for infants where parents are unable to breastfeed or choose not to breastfeed, the only food recognised by the WHO as a suitable and safe alternative to breastmilk is infant formula. UK regulations do not allow added sugars in standard infant formulas. The nutrient composition of infant formula sold in the UK is formulated to be similar to that of breastmilk and therefore contains naturally occurring lactose, which is not an ‘added sugar’. As such, it is incorrect to suggest that UK formulas are appropriate for consideration in sugar reduction strategies.”
[i] British Dental Journal volume 228, pages198–212(2020)
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