Dietary intake of protein and fat of 12- to 36-month-old children in a Dutch Total Diet Study

Toddler milk is an ultra-processed beverage consisting primarily of powdered milk, caloric sweeteners, and vegetable oil. Pediatric health authorities do not support the use of toddler milk, and emerging evidence suggests that toddler-milk marketing practices may mislead consumers. However, studies have not synthesized the extent of toddler-milk marketing practices or how these practices affect parents’ decisions about whether to serve toddler milk. We aimed to summarize the literature about toddler milk to identify what is known about: (1) parents’ toddler-milk purchasing and feeding behaviors, (2) toddler-milk marketing, and (3) how marketing practices influence parents’ beliefs and perceptions about toddler milk. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), we systematically searched 8 databases (PubMed, APA PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane Central, Embase, CINAHL, Communication & Mass Media Complete, and Business Source Premier). We identified 45 articles about toddler milk. Studies were conducted in 25 countries across 6 continents. Five types of findings emerged: (1) consumption and feeding behaviors, (2) demographic correlates of toddler-milk purchasing and consumption, (3) misperceptions and beliefs, (4) increased sales, and (5) increased marketing and responses to marketing. The included articles suggested that toddler-milk sales are growing rapidly worldwide. Findings also revealed that toddler-milk packages (eg, labels, branding) resemble infant formula packages and that toddler-milk marketing practices may indirectly advertise infant formula. Purchasing, serving, and consumption of toddler milk were higher in Black and Hispanic populations than in non-Hispanic White populations, and parents with higher educational attainment and income were more likely to offer toddler milk to their children. Findings suggest a need for policies to prevent cross-marketing of toddler milk and infant formula, reduce provision of toddler milk to infants and toddlers, and prevent caregivers from being misled about toddler-milk healthfulness.

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Research on commercial milk formulas for young children: A scoping review

Cavalcanti,

Silva,

Lamarca

et al. 2024

Maternal & Child Nutrition

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A scoping review of publications about commercial milk formulas intended for or consumed by children 12–36 months (CMF 12–36) was conducted. This review aimed to comprehensively map the existing literature, identify key concepts in the field and understand its evolution through time. A total of 3329 articles were screened and 220 were included, published between 1986 and 2024. Most works were published after 2016 (70.0%) and in high‐income countries (71.8%). Original studies were the vast majority (81.8%) of publications. Most publications dealt with feeding practices or analysed the composition and/or contamination of specific products (44.1% and 35.9%), but since the late 2000s, publications about marketing, policy, legislation, and consumer perception started to appear. Most published works (65.5%) did not focus exclusively on CMF 12–36 and included formulas for other demographics or other foods. About half of the works (55.5%) did not consider CMF 12–36 to be a breast milk substitute. We found 81 distinct product denominations used to refer to CMF 12–36, Growing Up Milk was the most common (25.9%). CMF industry was involved in 41.8% of all analysed works, and industry participation and funding were not always clearly informed (22.5% lacked a conflict of interest statement, and 25.5% did not present any information about funding). In the last decade, publications about CMF 12–36 have increased in volume and diversified in scope and subject matter. CMF‐industry participation has always been and still is present in the field, so possible vested interests should be taken into account when appreciating the literature.

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Dietary intake of protein and fat of 12- to 36-month-old children in a Dutch Total Diet Study

Cited by 3 publications

References 24 publications

Dietary intake and risk assessment of elements for 1- and 2-year-old children in the Netherlands

Dietary intake and risk assessment of elements for 1- and 2-year-old children in the Netherlands

Toddler milk: a scoping review of research on consumption, perceptions, and marketing practices

Research on commercial milk formulas for young children: A scoping review

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