One in three toddlers drink processed milk that is too high in sugar, putting them at risk of obesity and tooth decay, experts have warned.
‘Growing-up’ or ‘toddler’ formula milks for children aged one to two can contain more calories from sugar than an adult chocolate milkshake, researchers found.
But many parents do not realise that the drinks are so sweet or that there are no regulations covering their ingredients.
Vicky Sibson, director of the charity First Steps Nutrition, which carried out the study, said: ‘Parents are trying to make healthy choices for children and are led to believe these drinks are a good choice. It is shocking that they are not.’
The NHS says formula milk for children older than 12 months – including toddler and growing-up milks – is unnecessary. It says they need only cows’ milk or water, although they can still have breast milk.
But government figures show processed toddler milks are consumed by more than a third of infants aged from 12 to 18 months in the UK. The milks typically contain around a third more calories from sugar than recommended. Vegan versions are the worst offenders, containing up to three times the recommended levels, the report published this week said.
If children drink toddler or growing-up milks every day, they will consume on average more than 1lb (480g) of extra sugars every month.
While baby formula ingredients are strictly regulated, there are no rules for toddler milk or how it is marketed. Tests showed drinks such as SMA Pro Growing Up Milk and Aptamil 3 Toddler Milk contained a similar amount of calories from sugar as adult drink Yazoo Chocolate Flavoured Milk.
Researchers also found 14 out of 16 processed toddler milks in the UK exceeded official recommendations that added sugars should not make up more than 5 per cent of the total energy intake of children aged 12 to 18 months. Products included Cow & Gate 3 Toddler Milk and Kendamil Toddler Milk Stage 3.
Dr Sibson said: ‘Parents assume all formula milk must be safe. But when you move on to formula labelled as being for toddlers, growing up, or as stage 3 and stage 4, these products are unregulated.’
The report found toddler and growing-up milks cost families an extra £14.12 a month on average than cows’ milk.
The British Specialist Nutrition Association, which represents the formula-milk industry, said toddler and growing-up milks ‘contain important nutrients for healthy development’.
It added: ‘Families should be able choose from a range of options to supplement their child’s balanced, varied diet.
‘Our members are committed to making nutritious products and marketing them in a responsible way.’
Nestle said its SMA toddler milk was ‘nutritionally tailored for young children from one to three to support growth and development’. Danone, maker of Aptamil, Cow & Gate and Alpro, said its plant-based drinks were ‘classified as low in sugar’ and its toddler milks contained naturally occurring sugars. Kendamil did not comment.
