Are you feeding your baby with formula milk? This latest report may change the things you get from the grocery store.
Formula Milk Has No Nutritional Advantage
According to a new assessment from the American Academy of Pediatrics, toddler formulas give no nutritional advantage over a varied, well-balanced diet that includes either human or cow milk.
This is despite the fact that toddler formulae are significantly more expensive than ordinary milk. Target, for example, sells a selection of toddler formulas at an average of 30 cents per ounce. Regular milk costs just cents per ounce.
The AAP’s report says claims such as “improved brain development” or “improved immune function” on labels are “misleading.”
According to the AAP, the Infant Formula Act requires formulas to meet nutritional standards as a single source of nutrition for newborns up to 12 months of age.
However, such requirements are not in effect for formulas marketed to older children by the Food and Drug Administration.
What the FDA says
The FDA defines infant formula as “a food which purports to be or is represented for special dietary use solely as a food for infants by reason of its simulation of human milk or its suitability as a complete or partial substitute for human milk.”
“There is no comparable definition for toddler formula.”
The AAP basically states that package claims aren’t supported by science, and toddler formulas may contain unnecessary or harmful ingredients.
According to the analysis, some products may have too much sodium or additional sugars when compared to cow milk.
“As a result, composition of these drinks is unregulated by the FDA and their promotion typically characterized by misleading claims,” said Dr. George Fuchs, lead author of the AAP’s report.
According to the paper, there is a divide between toddler formulas marketed to a broader audience and pediatric formulas that are medically necessary. Unlike regular toddler formulas, medical condition formulas are nutritionally sufficient.
The AAP recommends that clinicians educate families about taking care of the body through nutritional consumption and promote well-balanced meals.