Cross‐sectional survey shows that follow‐up formula and growing‐up milks are labelled similarly to infant formula in four low and middle income countries

Abstract

This cross‐sectional survey assessed the characteristics of labels of follow‐up formula (FUF) and growing‐up milk (GUM) compared with infant formula (IF), including cross‐promotion practices between FUF/GUM and IF manufactured by the same company, sold in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Kathmandu Valley, Nepal; Dakar Department, Senegal; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All products were imported. A wide recommended age/age range for introduction was provided by manufacturers across all sites, with products with an age recommendation of 0–6 months being most prevalent in three sites, representing over a third of all products. Various age categories (e.g. 1, 1+ and Stage 1) commonly appeared on labels. A number of descriptive names (e.g. infant formula and milk formula) per category of age of introduction were used with some appearing across more than one category. Images of feeding bottles were found on most labels across all age categories, but prevalence decreased with older age categories. The majority of FUF/GUM manufactured by IF companies across all sites displayed at least one example of cross‐promotion with one or more of the company's IF: two‐thirds or more contained similar colour schemes/designs and similar brand names; 20–85% had similar slogans/mascots/symbols. A wide and potentially confusing range of ages/categories of introduction and descriptive names were found, and cross‐promotion with IF was common on FUF/GUM labels. Global guidance from normative bodies forms the basis of most low and middle income countries policies and should provide specific guidance to prohibit cross‐promotion between FUF/GUM and IF, and all three categories should be classified as breastmilk substitutes.

Promoting Healthy Growth or Feeding Obesity? The Need for Evidence-Based Oversight of Infant Nutritional Supplement Claims

“…Often referred to as “follow-up formula” (FUF), “growing-up milk” (GUM) or “toddler milks”, these liquid-based “nutritional supplements” have great similarity to infant formulas, but are intended to function as meal complements rather than meal replacements [14]. A number of fortified beverages are predominantly targeted for the transition and weaning periods, with FUFs developed for children from six months of age as part of the weaning diet and GUMs, or toddler milks, intended for children from one to three years of age.…”

“…A number of fortified beverages are predominantly targeted for the transition and weaning periods, with FUFs developed for children from six months of age as part of the weaning diet and GUMs, or toddler milks, intended for children from one to three years of age. Prepared from the milk of cows, sheep, goats, or other constituents of plant origin, both FUFs and GUMs may have modified protein content and composition, in addition to a range of added nutrients (e.g., fatty acids, micronutrients, probiotics, prebiotics, or synbiotics) [14]. These products are currently sold to a wide customer base in what was estimated in early 2016 to be the “fastest-growing packaged food market” globally [15].…”

Prevalence, duration, and content of television advertisements for breast milk substitutes and commercially produced complementary foods in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Dakar, Senegal

“…All advertisements were observed and transcripts reviewed to assess which products were included in the advertisements and to determine if suggested ages of use for the products were provided either visually or verbally. Research has shown that different manufacturers use numbered “stages” to refer to different recommended ages of use for BMS products, but that these are not consistent across manufacturers (Pereira et al, ). An advertisement (or product image shown in the advertisement) which visually or verbally stated a stage of use (a number such as 1, 2, or 3), was not considered to be a suggested age of use unless an age (i.e., “6–12 months” or “from 6 months of age”) was also visually or verbally stated.…”

Enriched Milk Drinks for Vitamin Deficiency Correction in Toddlers and Preschoolers

“…Однако в Российской Федерации обога-щение пищевой продукции осуществляется в незначи-тельном объеме отдельными изготовителями этих про-дуктов по собственной инициативе [26]. В рацион детей дошкольного и младшего школьного возраста такие про-дукты включаются редко [27].…”

“…Насыщенные молочные жиры липидного компонента заменены на растительные, что компенсирует недо-статочное поступление полиненасыщенных жирных кис-лот с пищей при оптимальном соотношении линолевой и альфа-линоленовой жирных кислот (7-10:1) для обес-печения их лучшего усвоения; добавлены длинноцепо-чечные полиненасыщенные жирные кислоты семейства Обзор литературы омега-3 -докозагексаеновая и эйкозапентаеновая. Эти напитки не следует путать с адаптированными смеся-ми и последующими формулами, предназначенными для детей в возрасте 0-12 мес [27].…”