Milk and milk drinks marketed for children 1-4 years in the UK
Animal milks
This paper outlines current dietary guidelines for milk consumption among young children in the UK, the contribution of animal milk to the dietary intakes of children aged 1-4 years, and revisits the recommendations on what types of animal milk children of different ages should drink and why, as well as how much.
Drinks marketed as growing-up and toddler milks
This paper focuses on infant milks labelled as stage 3 and stage 4 formulas, and marketed for use in the second and third year of life. It highlights the lack of compositional, marketing or labelling regulations for these unnecessary, ultra-processed drinks, and their high cost and high free sugar content.
Milk FAQs
Some common questions regarding milk and milk drinks for children aged 1-4.
Plant-based milk alternatives
This paper provides an overview of milk alternatives made from soya, oat, pea, hemp and different nuts. Information is provided on the nutritional composition of selected products compared to cows’ milk, and on the potential health benefits and risks associated with their use for young children as alternatives to cows’ milk. This information is suitable for vegan, dairy free, lactose free families.
