The beneficial claims of certain ingredients in follow-up formulas might have been exaggerated. Parents should be cautious of the misleading advertising claims when choosing follow-up formula for their infants and young children.
The Consumer Council conducted a study on the claims made by various formulas on the ingredients that were heavily advertised, and found that some of the claims might be exaggerating and even misleading.
Follow-up formulas are intended as a liquid part of the diet for weaning infants from 6 months up.
The ingredients under scrutiny included probiotic, prebiotic/soluble fibre, DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), AA (Arachidonic Acid), β-glucan, PhD (phospholipid) and partially hydrolyzed protein formula.
The Council consulted various professionals, including pediatricians, pharmacists and dietitians, on the above ingredients and their claims.
According to expert opinions, although individual studies did show certain beneficial effects in adding probiotics, prebiotics, soluble dietary fibre, DHA, AA in formulas for infants and young children, further research is necessary to confirm their clinical efficacy and whether they should be routinely added to infant formulas. Current CODEX standards do not stipulate these ingredients as essential ingredients in either follow-up or infant formulas.
As for β-Glucan and PhD (phospholipid), there is insufficient evidence to prove that the former can improve the body's immune defense, nor the latter has specific beneficial effect on the mental development of infants/young children as claimed.
Experts also said the claims of prebiotic or soluble fibre being capable of alleviating the problem of constipation might be misleading. Parents should not change to other formula or choose formula with these ingredients simply to deal with bowel problem.
Partially hydrolyzed protein formula is advertised as beneficial to digestive system and immunity, but again there is insufficient evidence that such formulas have specific beneficial effects on digestion, absorption and immunity.
The Council also raises concern that some formulas target at "picky eaters". Professionals opine that the messages marketed by these products are misleading. They point out that picky eating may not only be the single issue of eating and nutrition, but also the behavioral and child development. Feeding on "picky eaters" formulas simply cannot solve the problem of young children's picky eating. On the contrary, situation may be further deteriorated worse if picky eaters rely too much on the formulas.
Moreover, pediatricians consider that while milk is a nutritious food and can be included in a balanced diet, it should not be exaggerated that it can replace a balanced diet. Parents should encourage their children to obtain different nutrients from broader range of foods.
Professionals also point out that all common infant and follow-up formulas on sale in Hong Kong are nutritionally similar. There is no data supporting that one formula wins over the other.
Breast-milk is the best food for babies, but if parents choose to feed their babies with formula, they should disregard the exaggerated claims when selecting a formula.
The Council urges the government to prohibit exaggerated and misleading claims made by formulas suppliers. In order to protect and promote breast-feeding, the government should consider establishing a local code based on the World Health Organisation's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions to regulate against advertising or promoting breast-milk substitutes, including infant formulas and follow-up formulas.
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