Infant formulas loaded with corn syrup and sugar

Thursday, October 20, 2011 by: Selena Keegan
Tags: infant formula, corn syrup, health news

(NaturalNews) Top baby formula brands sold in stores contain alarmingly high levels of corn syrup and sugar. In light of rising rates of childhood obesity and diabetes, parents need to read labels carefully to protect their children's health.

Consumption of large quantities of sugar and high fructose corn syrup have been linked to behavioral disorders such as ADD as well as other issues such as anxiety, daytime drowsiness and nighttime insomnia.

Feeding your baby sugar and corn syrup also increases your child's risk for a wide spectrum of other health problems ranging from dental cavities to high triglyceride levels to nutritional deficiencies. Even the mainstream medical establishment warns of the dangers of added sugars.

Warnings issued about sugar consumption for children

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued warnings about the health dangers of children drinking sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas, sweetened fruit drinks and sports drinks (http://www.aap.org/obesity/SSB.html).

Unfortunately, many parents do not realize that the most store-bought formulas they feed their infants and toddlers may pose the same health risks as a can of soda.

Most baby formula product lines offer options for cow's milk-based formula as well as soy milk for infants with lactose intolerance. Many formulas come in ready-to-feed, liquid concentrate and powdered forms. All the major baby formula brands offer options for all age groups from premature infants through toddlers, choices for children with special medical conditions, and organic product lines.

The top five ingredients listed for Similac Sensitive Formula for Fussiness and Gas are: Corn Syrup Solids, Sugar (Sucrose), Milk Protein Isolate, High Oleic Safflower Oil, Soy Oil.

Enfamil is a product of Abbott Nutrition, a division of Abbott Laboratories. Enfamil's Soy Toddler formula also lists Corn Syrup Solids as the initial ingredient, followed by Vegetable Oil (Palm Olein, Coconut, Soy and High Oleic Sunflower Oils), Soy Protein Isolate and Calcium Phosphate. Enfamil is produced by Mead Johnson Nutrition, a subsidiary of Mead Johnson & Company, LLC which was spun off from Bristol-Myers Squibb in 2009.

Gerber is owned by Nestle, the candy company which makes Kit Kat bars, and which also owns Jenny Craig. The list of ingredients for Gerber's Good Start Protect Formula: Whey Protein Concentrate (From Cow's Milk, Enzymatically Hydrolyzed, Reduced In Minerals), Vegetable Oils (Palm Olein, Soy, Coconut, And High-Oleic Safflower Or High-Oleic Sunflower), Lactose, Corn Maltodextrin.

Parent's Choice is the Wal-Mart store-brand of baby products. Their Organic Infant Formula contains Organic Reduced Minerals Whey, Organic Non-Fat Milk, Organic Lactose, Organic Corn Syrup Solids, Organic Palm Oil or Palm Olein.

Earth's Best Organic Infant Formula with DHA and ARA has a similar ingredient list (Organic Reduced Minerals Whey, Organic Non-Fat Milk, Organic Lactose, Organic Glucose Syrup Solids, Organic Palm Oil Or Organic Palm Olein).

Nature's One lists the following ingredients in its Dairy Formula: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Non-Fat Dry Milk, Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Organic Soybean Oil. Nature's One is a privately held company based in Columbus, Ohio.

Take the time to research baby formulas before feeding your baby. You can learn more about baby formula ingredients, as well as information on formula packaging here: http://www.organic-baby-resource.com/organic... and here http://www.cornucopia.org/2010/04/new-admini...

Complete lists of ingredients for the products mentioned here can be found at manufacturer's websites:

http://abbottnutrition.com/Products/similac-...

http://www.enfamil.com/app/iwp/enf10/content...

http://www.parentschoiceformula.com/organic-...

http://www.gerber.com/AllStages/products/for...

http://www.earthsbest.com/products/product/2...

http://www.naturesone.com/dairy/