Chocolate & Vanilla-Flavored Formulas are a Baaaad Idea

Posted By elissa on May 10, 2010 | 2 comments

The L.A. Times has the latest on Mead-Johnson’s newest product, Enfagrow…

Blogging moms and nutritionists are criticizing a new formula for toddlers that comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors as an early start to obesity.

…Introduced by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. in February as a beverage for toddlers who are transitioning from infant formula or breast milk, Enfagrow Premium’s toddler chocolate and vanilla formulas are milk-based but contain 19 grams of sugar per 7-ounce serving.

…According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, normal toddlers will experience a sharp drop in appetite after age 1 because of slowed growth. A typical 1-year-old needs just 1,000 calories a day, according to the academy, about half that of the average adult. The academy recommended providing several nutrition-rich options and allowing a toddler to choose what he or she wants to eat from those options. For toddlers who refuse to eat any of it, the academy recommended wrapping up the food for later when the child will be more hungry.

Feeding a toddler sweets at that age, the pediatric organization said, will fuel the child’s interest in eating more sweets and diminish their interest in nutritious foods, and dietary supplements are rarely needed for toddlers who eat a varied diet.

19g of sugar is close to 5 teaspoons… a lot for a 1 year-old.  And it’s a lot of empty calories for a child who is only consuming about 1,000 calories a day. The argument that it’s no worse than chocolate milk is pretty specious, too, if you ask me.  Most parents at least realize that chocolate milk is sweetened; whereas they might not expect formula to be.  Unless they’re determined label readers, the amount of sugar is something that could easily fly under the radar.

Very young children do not need to be regularly consuming sweetened drinks, nutrient-fortified or otherwise. I’m with Marion Nestle and the other critics: chocolate and vanilla flavored toddler formulas are a very baaaad idea.