Truth About Child s Growing Up Milk

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Since my previous post regarding added sugar in Farell s growing up milk, I have been doing some research and trying to understand more on the contents of various added sugar in his growing up milk. There were so many information and got so confused with all the facts but I still have to find ways to understand to ensure that I don’t simply give him things that are not meant for him.

Some facts about sugar:

• Sugar are sugars

There are different names for sugars being used - natural sugars, added sugars, natural plant sugars, corn syrup solids, sucrose, and glucose syrup solids. They are all basically the same providing extra calories and all end up the same inside a child's body. 

• Too much added sugars is the problem

Sugars are not necessarily bad as they can help provide the energy that growing children need. However, when the level of added sugars in a growing up milk powder, becomes excessive; it can increase the risk of health problems for children now and in the future; and it does not align with any local or international recommendations. 

• 'Carbohydrates' in milk powder consist of only sugars

Under Malaysian food labelling regulations, the 'carbohydrate per serve' number in the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP) on your child's growing up milk powder is only made up of two things:

(i) Sugar that is naturally present in the milk powder. The only naturally present sugar in milk is lactose.

    The natural lactose level in a glass of standard milk is approximately 11g-12g per serve. 

 

(ii) Sugars that are added to the milk powder. Anything higher than 11g-12g for ‘carbohydrate    

     per serve’ in growing up milk powder is equal to added sugars Handbook of dairy foods and 

     nutrition. 2^nd Ed. National

With all these facts, i am sure you will be wondering which growing up milk is the best as most milk in the market contains the added sugar. And also if added sugar is ok to be consumed by our children, why do we have to worry? After all some say a child needs carbohydrate in their food intake. My concerns are which of the ingredients are really considered sugar?

 I have done my survey and I found out that most growing up milk brands in the market does contains high amount of added sugar (based on the semakgula website calculator) and now am not sure. Based on the display of the content label on the pack, yes it is quite a shock to know how much sugar we are giving it to our kids. Most of the growing up milk in our market contained all the added sugar but what we can do is to look out for the displays or the label behind the milk pack and compare which you think has the lowest amount of all. It is good if you as a parent understand and be aware of the decision you made on the products to use for your children.  

I was still unsure about the added sugar and clarified with the dietician on which sugar is ok to be consume by kids at Farell’s age, the dietician informed me that all sugars provide the same amount of calories therefore the issue here is not what type of sugar, how much added sugar that they consumed. And it is advise to have 1 to 2 serving of milk or dairy products in diet as recommended by Malaysia healthy food pyramid, not just children, for adult’s diet too. There is no age limit on when to stop your kid to drink milk as milk and dairy should be part of a healthy person s diet throughout their life.

Well, that was my issues and am glad I have asked all the questions. It ease my mind a little.  What you can do as parents, do check the following before making decision on your child growing up milk :-

1. Check your growing up milk powder pack

    There are two things you can check on the label of the pack:-

-  Find the number for ‘carbohydrate per serve’ in the NIP. Remember anything higher than

   11g-12 is added sugars.

-   Look at the ingredient list for the names corn syrup solids, sucrose and glucose syrup solids.

    These are added sugars ingredients.

2. Taste your child’s growing up milk

When was the last time you really tasted your child’s growing up milk? I suggest you do it today or now! Take notice of how sweet it is.

I did! And gosh it was really sweet and my hands were all sticky. That shows it contains lots of sugar to gave me that affect. 

3. Talk to others about what you find – Sharing is Caring

Do share on what you discover with other mums and dads. With all the technology around, spread all the info you found. Chat, call, SMS, email, Tweet, Facebook – whichever works for you. You can also talk to your doctor or healthcare professional for more information.

I love item no 3! And hope you don’t mind sharing it with me. In the meantime, you might want to do all the steps above before deciding on your children s milk. Do not jeopardize their health by being ignorant and do some research before believeing all facts that you see on the label. Being concern is rock! :D