Commercial growing up milks: usage frequency and associated child and demographic factors across four Asia Pacific countries

Abstract

Child feeding practices are changing across the world, driven by economic development and the commercial introduction of alternate food and fluids for children. The relatively recent introduction of commercial toddler or growing up milks (GUMs) has the potential to contribute significantly to food system and dietary pattern alterations. 1,2 GUMs are milkbased products that are low in protein compared to cow's milk,

Toddler foods and milks don’t stack up against regular foods and milks

“…The studies also reported 48% of toddlers consumed yoghurt (plain, flavoured and custard), 20% consumed dried fruit, 23% consumed sugar and sugary products and 35% consumed discretionary cereal products daily (based on 24 h recall and food-frequency questionnaires). Additional Australian research reported around 36% of toddlers consume toddler milk daily [ 16 ], and Australian national health survey data has also shown that close to 40% of toddlers aged 2-3 years consume yoghurt daily and close to 50% consume confectionery and cereal/nut/fruit/seed bars daily [ 38 ].…”

“…This is a key driver of the obesity epidemic worldwide [ 14 ]. Global research indicates that toddlers are becoming regular consumers of commercially available foods and milks [ 15 , 16 ]. An Australian study found that discretionary foods contributed just over 10% of total energy intake in toddlers [ 15 ], and packaged infant and toddler snack foods made up 9% of this total.…”

“…An Australian study found that discretionary foods contributed just over 10% of total energy intake in toddlers [ 15 ], and packaged infant and toddler snack foods made up 9% of this total. Toddler milk consumption is also on the rise, with Australian research demonstrating close to 40% of toddlers are consuming toddler milks [ 16 ], and this is predicted to continue to rise [ 9 , 17 ]. In addition, research has shown that the largely unregulated retail market for toddler foods and milks is increasing at unprecedented rates around the globe [ 9 , 18 ].…”

Sugar content and nutrient content claims of growing‐up milks in Indonesia

“…This study shows that nutrient content claims are being made on products that overall do not have a suitable sugar profile for this age group and may be misleading some caregivers into believing that these products are nutritionally required for their young child's health and development. Addressing the concerning levels of sugar content in GUMs is particularly important given the burgeoning GUM market and increasing reach of these products into the diets of young children globally (Willcox et al, 2021). Between 2005 and 2019, breast-milk substitute sales volume increased by 122%, but this was primarily driven by GUMs, which grew by over 220% and contributed nearly half of total sales by volume for breast-milk substitutes in 2019 (Baker et al, 2020).…”

“…As of 2017, nearly three quarters (72.9%) of non-breastfeeding children 6-23 months of age were consuming a breast-milk substitute (National Population and Family Planning Board et al, 2018). A recent health facility-based survey in Bandung City, Indonesia, identified that half of 12-to 35-month-olds had consumed a breast-milk substitute in the previous day (Helen Keller International, 2021), and a survey among mothers living in Jakarta found that GUMs were consumed seven or more times per week by nearly one third of young children 12-35 months of age (Willcox et al, 2021).…”