According to a recently released campaign “Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids,” parents are advised to stick to “breast milk, formula, cow’s milk and water.”
The campaign has also suggested that parents should not give plant-based milk associated with the dairy industry, caffeine, and added sugar to their children who are below five. In addition, they are advised to limit juice intake.
The guidelines stated, “With the exception of fortified soymilk, many plant-based/non-dairy milk alternatives lack key nutrients found in cow’s milk. Our bodies cannot absorb nutrients in these non-dairy milks as well as they can from regular milk.”
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which is a non-profit organization consisting of over 12,000 doctors, has suggested withdrawing the advice “due to concerns over dairy industry funding.”
The guidelines were constructed by healthcare experts from four different organizations:
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Heart Association
The committee has noted that the American Heart Association has been receiving funding from the National Dairy Council. It also noted that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has been getting funding from the dairy industry. Speaking in the support of the committee, Registered Dietician Susan Levin said. “While we support the recommendations for breast milk and water, the guidelines promoting cow’s milk are harmful to children…it is important to note too that these new guidelines on preferred beverages for children that favored milk were funded in part by the dairy industry.”
