New Product: Chocolate- and vanilla-flavored formulas for toddlers

[Liberal_in_LA]

are criticized
Nutritionists and mothers say the new product from Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. will lead to obesity.

By Julie Wernau

May 6, 2010
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Blogging moms and nutritionists are criticizing a new formula for toddlers that comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors as an early start to 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.

Introduced by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. in February as a beverage for toddlers who are transitioning from infant formula or breast milk, Enfagrow Premium's toddler chocolate and vanilla formulas are milk-based but contain 19 grams of sugar per 7-ounce serving. The Glenview, Ill., company said the product is no sweeter than chocolate milk or orange juice that toddlers drink 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."

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Nestle, who purchased a 29-ounce package of Enfagrow recently for $18.99 (22 servings) to study the product, said it will lead children who drink it 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."

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chocolate-formula-20100506,0,78263.story

[Auggie]

1. Could it be any clearer? Don't buy the product!

Nothing will take it off the shelves faster

[joeybee12]

2. Wow! What a stupid, stupid idea...

...yeah, no more sugar than orange juice...someone explain to those dips*its the difference between naturally occuring sugar and refined, processed, added sugar.

[Brickbat]

3. Holy shit. This is disgusting.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. What's next? Chocolate-flavored breast milk?

[FSogol]

5. How soon until they have Coke and Pepsi flavored formula?

:shrug:

[KittyWampus]

6. There you go! It's your million dollar idea GO FOR IT

[HopeHoops]

7. This will not end well.

[NorthCarolina]

8. Your typical Wal-Mart shopper will probably love this new product though. n/t

Kinda makes you feel good about yourself...doesn't it?

[Berry Cool]

12. I think the whole site that posts these pictures exists to help people feel better

about themselves..."At least I'm not as horrible as those fat, ugly people who shop at Walmart."

I can think of better things to do with my time than regale myself with how morally superior I am to people who dress badly in public or have the nerve to go out of their houses while overweight and wearing (or not wearing) unflattering clothes.

[ejpoeta]

9. generally a kid on formula is off at a year old. then they get whole milk.

i remember when my oldest was 4 or 5 i gave her chocolate milk as a treat. i think i put a little syrup in her drink. big mistake!! she refused to drink regular milk though it had been fine before. but i didn't just let her drink chocolate milk!! my kids get chocolate milk occassionally, but that is not very often. they drink plain old milk just fine. give them a straw and they will have a field day! and they eat most fruits and vegetables too. i went through lots of things with emy when she was young... i couldn't get her to eat anything!! i'd mix vegetables in with her mac and cheese. i'd end up with a pile of vegetables in the bowl. but i persisted. what i think got her eating stuff was being able to help make it. and having her just try it. most of the time she found she liked it. can't just give them what they 'want'. it's their job to test boundaries and see what they can get away with. the kids often tell me they want to go to mcdonalds or wendys. i just keep going. we eat out once in a while but i try to avoid most fast food places most of the time. i figure i am the parent. i can say no! and if they say they hate me or i am mean... well, someone has to be might as well be me!! and they'll have something to tell oprah. (got that from sleepless in seattle).

[Vinca]

10. What's next? Tobacco flavored teething biscuits?

[Lyric]

11. Meh.

I gave LyricKid an occasional teaspoon of Ovaltine or Strawberry Quik mixed into his milk when he was a toddler. He loved it, it was a nice treat, and he didn't grow up to be a sugar-addict. He still likes regular milk just fine. This isn't meant for infants, it's meant for toddlers. Lots of toddlers get chocolate milk. This is like that, but with extra vitamins and nutrients--really, it's just like Ovaltine with a bit less sugar. So long as this isn't the ONLY milk they're getting, I fail to see a cause for this level of outrage.

:shrug: