Chocolate formula spurs childhood obesity debate
By Julie Wernau | A new formula for toddlers that comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors is facing harsh criticism in the blogosphere by moms and nutritionists who are calling the product an early road to childhood obesity.
"Is it really a good idea to get our kids hooked on all things chocolate at the same time they're learning to walk?" one blogger posted on Momlogic.com.
"What's next, genetically modifying moms to produce chocolate breast milk?" wrote another.
"Is it really a good idea to get our kids hooked on all things chocolate at the same time they're learning to walk?" one blogger posted on Momlogic.com.
"What's next, genetically modifying moms to produce chocolate breast milk?" wrote another.
Introduced by Glenview-based Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. in February as a beverage for toddlers who are making a transition from infant formula or breast milk, Enfagrow Premium's toddler chocolate and vanilla formulas are milk-based but contain more sugar than milk -- 19 grams of sugar per 7-ounce serving.
The company said product is no sweeter than other things toddlers may drink, such as chocolate milk or orange juice, and contains added nutrients that milk lacks, such as Omega-3 DHA and prebiotics.
"The toddlers years can be particularly challenging since food preferences may be erratic and unpredictable," said Mead Johnson spokesman Chris Perille. "Products such as Enfagrow Premium can play a role in helping children achieve a more balanced, healthy daily diet."
Perille said the idea is to get a toddler to consume milk, even flavored milk, because it will lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, disagreed.
"Milk is not an essential food," said Nestle, who purchased a 29-ounce package of Enfagrow recently for $18.99 (22 servings) and says she disagrees with the way the product is being marketed.
When children are toddlers, she said, they are developing a taste for foods. Products such as Enfagrow, she said, will lead those children to crave sugary beverages.
"You want kids to be interested in eating a very very wide range of foods because variety helps create nutritional balance," she said. "You don't want them to think that every food needs to be sweet or salty."
Enfagrow is in what the food industry calls the "follow-on formula" category, which takes the concept of baby formula and extends it into toddlerhood. Abbott Nutrition produces a similar product, Similac Go & Grow, for older infants and toddlers, but it's unflavored.
Nestle criticized the product on her blog www.foodpolitics.com. The post automatically feeds to The Atlantic Monthly's website and has been cross-posted on mommy blogs across the Internet.
She complained to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, arguing that the product is claiming health benefits for children younger than 2. FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said the product is considered a food and not an infant formula under FDA guidelines and does not appear to be in violation of the law as it doesn't claim to "cure" anything, only to "support" normal body functions.
JP Morgan analyst Terry Bivens said infant formula is still the "bread and butter" of companies such as Abbott and Mead Johnson. Follow-on formulas, which are labeled as food products and don't fall under the same labeling guidelines as infant formula, are in a smaller specialty category, he said, similar to the specialty formulas that are popular in Europe for children with digestion problems or other special needs.
Jessica Parisi would do just about anything to get her 1-year-old to stop throwing food or feeding it to the dog. She's even tried masking veggie protein links as hot dogs.
"Sometimes he'll eat blueberries, and other times he'll say 'No blueberries!' and throw them," said tMount Prospect resident.
Two weeks from his second birthday, Chase is underweight, and Parisi says she'd gladly try chocolate- or vanilla-flavored toddler formula if she thought he would eat it.
"I probably would try giving it to him as a supplement just to try to get more nutrients in him," she said.
Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of MomCentral.com, a website geared toward busy moms, said that while at first glance, chocolate-flavored formula sounds like a bad idea, in some cases, it might be a "second best" option for parents with picky toddlers.
"If something stands between your children and drinking milk, than this becomes a better choice than juice or juice-based products, even, theoretically water," she said.
Toddlers crave carbohydrates all the time, she said, and sometimes their pallets need to be "bribed," she said.
Terri Freeman knows all about the carb cravings. The Streeterville resident's 3-year-old, Shayna, won't touch vegetables. She just wants chicken nuggets, pizza and pasta, she said.
"My doctor hasn't been that concerned," she said.
Freeman said she asked her doctor about it and was told that her daughter is healthy nutritionally and to try the best she can to incorporate small portions of vegetables or even fruit into her diet.
"They just want to eat bread and crackers," said Jill Houk, co-founder of Center Chef Food Studios in Chicago and participant in Healthy Schools Campaign, "They want to eat fruit or anything sweet. In the short-term it may seem like 'I just want to get nutrition in this child.' But in reality, you're creating a very bad situation."
Houk said that parents buy products to bribe their children's taste buds because they are concerned about their nutrition, but that they could be hurting them in the long-term.
Chicago pediatrician Rebecca Unger said feeding the Enfagrow chocolate or vanilla formula is similar to adding three teaspoons of sugar to a glass of milk. She said while she couldn't rule out using the formula in certain cases, generally, she thought it was an unnecessary purchase.
"For a healthy child who doesn't have medical problems affecting growth and behavior and development, I don't think it's necessary. Could there be reasons for a child who is a really picky eater who is having other issues to drink it -- maybe?" she said.
The company said product is no sweeter than other things toddlers may drink, such as chocolate milk or orange juice, and contains added nutrients that milk lacks, such as Omega-3 DHA and prebiotics.
"The toddlers years can be particularly challenging since food preferences may be erratic and unpredictable," said Mead Johnson spokesman Chris Perille. "Products such as Enfagrow Premium can play a role in helping children achieve a more balanced, healthy daily diet."
Perille said the idea is to get a toddler to consume milk, even flavored milk, because it will lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, disagreed.
"Milk is not an essential food," said Nestle, who purchased a 29-ounce package of Enfagrow recently for $18.99 (22 servings) and says she disagrees with the way the product is being marketed.
When children are toddlers, she said, they are developing a taste for foods. Products such as Enfagrow, she said, will lead those children to crave sugary beverages.
"You want kids to be interested in eating a very very wide range of foods because variety helps create nutritional balance," she said. "You don't want them to think that every food needs to be sweet or salty."
Enfagrow is in what the food industry calls the "follow-on formula" category, which takes the concept of baby formula and extends it into toddlerhood. Abbott Nutrition produces a similar product, Similac Go & Grow, for older infants and toddlers, but it's unflavored.
Nestle criticized the product on her blog www.foodpolitics.com. The post automatically feeds to The Atlantic Monthly's website and has been cross-posted on mommy blogs across the Internet.
She complained to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, arguing that the product is claiming health benefits for children younger than 2. FDA spokesman Michael Herndon said the product is considered a food and not an infant formula under FDA guidelines and does not appear to be in violation of the law as it doesn't claim to "cure" anything, only to "support" normal body functions.
JP Morgan analyst Terry Bivens said infant formula is still the "bread and butter" of companies such as Abbott and Mead Johnson. Follow-on formulas, which are labeled as food products and don't fall under the same labeling guidelines as infant formula, are in a smaller specialty category, he said, similar to the specialty formulas that are popular in Europe for children with digestion problems or other special needs.
Jessica Parisi would do just about anything to get her 1-year-old to stop throwing food or feeding it to the dog. She's even tried masking veggie protein links as hot dogs.
"Sometimes he'll eat blueberries, and other times he'll say 'No blueberries!' and throw them," said tMount Prospect resident.
Two weeks from his second birthday, Chase is underweight, and Parisi says she'd gladly try chocolate- or vanilla-flavored toddler formula if she thought he would eat it.
"I probably would try giving it to him as a supplement just to try to get more nutrients in him," she said.
Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of MomCentral.com, a website geared toward busy moms, said that while at first glance, chocolate-flavored formula sounds like a bad idea, in some cases, it might be a "second best" option for parents with picky toddlers.
"If something stands between your children and drinking milk, than this becomes a better choice than juice or juice-based products, even, theoretically water," she said.
Toddlers crave carbohydrates all the time, she said, and sometimes their pallets need to be "bribed," she said.
Terri Freeman knows all about the carb cravings. The Streeterville resident's 3-year-old, Shayna, won't touch vegetables. She just wants chicken nuggets, pizza and pasta, she said.
"My doctor hasn't been that concerned," she said.
Freeman said she asked her doctor about it and was told that her daughter is healthy nutritionally and to try the best she can to incorporate small portions of vegetables or even fruit into her diet.
"They just want to eat bread and crackers," said Jill Houk, co-founder of Center Chef Food Studios in Chicago and participant in Healthy Schools Campaign, "They want to eat fruit or anything sweet. In the short-term it may seem like 'I just want to get nutrition in this child.' But in reality, you're creating a very bad situation."
Houk said that parents buy products to bribe their children's taste buds because they are concerned about their nutrition, but that they could be hurting them in the long-term.
Chicago pediatrician Rebecca Unger said feeding the Enfagrow chocolate or vanilla formula is similar to adding three teaspoons of sugar to a glass of milk. She said while she couldn't rule out using the formula in certain cases, generally, she thought it was an unnecessary purchase.
"For a healthy child who doesn't have medical problems affecting growth and behavior and development, I don't think it's necessary. Could there be reasons for a child who is a really picky eater who is having other issues to drink it -- maybe?" she said.
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