Plant milks dangerous for babies

Haro on “milks” of plant origin

Based on rice, soya, oats… vegetable drinks are all the rage. But, these preparations, not developed specifically for babies and young children, can absolutely not replace breast milk or infant milk. A few years ago, the national health security agency (ANSES) recalled the serious shortcomings linked to the exclusive use of these vegetable juices and milks of animal origin other than cows which are not specifically produced. for babies and young children.

Plant “milks”: the ANSES report

L‘ANSES published in March 2013 a report on the risks associated with feeding infants with beverages other than breast milk and infant formula. This warning follows numerous reports of serious cases in young children. Deficiencies, malnutrition, infectious complications, respiratory distress: these are the consequences observed during the risk assessment by the agency. A death has even been recorded. ANSES recalls that the period from 0 to 1 year is the most important period for the growth of the child. “On average, the birth weight is multiplied by 3, the height increases by almost 50% and the weight of the brain goes from 300-400 grams to more than 1 kg at the age of one year” specifies the report. The specific nutritional needs of toddlers are covered either through breastfeeding or through the consumption of specific infant formula.. The use of “vegetable milks” or milks of non-bovine animal origin (milk from sheep, mares, goats, donkeys, etc.) which are not specific for babies and young children, is inadequate from a nutritional point of view. It causes an insufficient supply of energy, proteins, amino acids, lipids, minerals, vitamins and trace elements. The repercussions on the child are all the more serious if the consumption is exclusive and prolonged.

More or less long-term consequences

« This problem is a real reality, confirms Patrick Tounian, pediatrician, nutritionist and member of the nutrition committee of the French pediatric society. I even had one of my students do a thesis on this subject. It identifies 9 severe severe cases in 10 years, all of which required hospitalization. The last baby in our ward was five months old, was fed rice juice, suffered from severe anemia, edema, and had to undergo a blood transfusion. Another child was hospitalized for seizures related to calcium deficiency. Another had very severe skin damage due to zinc deficiency. And these are only the most serious forms. Most of the children who are deficient because of these drinks do not reach us. Deficiencies are not obvious, they may not be visible. However, these deficiencies have real consequences in the long term, for example they alter cerebral development, even if it is difficult to establish a direct link. “

“Plant milks”: a fad?

There are several reasons for this craze for “plant-based milks”. There is a huge fad. As proof, the offer of vegetable drinks such as soya, chestnuts or almonds is experiencing strong development.

The subject comes up regularly in discussions. Like this mother who explains that “to replace milk, we can give vegetable milks. And for calcium, no problem, the one found in vegetables and plant milks is much better assimilated by the body than that of cow’s milk. So if your baby eats everything, no worries! ” In addition,ertain health professionals do not hesitate to recommend these drinks. “ In my opinion, parents are victims, says Patrick Tounian. They are abused by sectarian movements or by health professionals who make them believe that cow’s milk is very bad. It is purely ideological! “.

Allergies diagnosed too quickly

Many parents believe their child is allergic or intolerant to cow’s milk. “There is a big abuse of diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy, confirms Patrick Tounian We have a lot of false diagnoses. At a period, 75% of the children who came to us with a suspected allergy were in fact not allergic “. About 8% of babies follow a specific diet while only 2% of them have a true allergy to cow’s milk.

To diagnose an allergy, a specific examination is necessary. The consultation begins with a very specific questioning about the child’s diet and lifestyle. Doctors will perform a “double-blind oral challenge test”: neither the baby nor the mother knows what is in the bottle. If the child reacts to cow’s milk, the diagnosis of allergy is made.

Baby feeding: recommendations

How to remedy this public health problem? There is a very specific European directive : “No product other than infant formula may be marketed or otherwise presented as such as to meet on its own the nutritional requirements of normal healthy infants during the first months of life until the introduction of a completely appropriate diet. “Regarding vegetable drinks, the ANSES report wants” the labeling of these products to indicate on the one hand the nutritional composition in energy, macronutrients, minerals, trace elements and vitamins, and on the other hand that they are not suitable for feeding children under one year of age and their use may cause serious accidents. ”

Remember also that the World Health Organization (WHO) advocates breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life. Moms who cannot breastfeed or choose not to breastfeed should use specific infant formulas. Then, from 4 months, follow-on milk or 2nd age milk can be given to the baby.

What about infant formulas made from rice or goat’s milk?

Be careful, however, not to confuse vegetable drinks that are not specifically developed for babies, with infant formulas that are made from rice, soy or goat’s milk for example. All the difference is in the fact that these preparations include the name “infantile preparation”! Infant formulas, which are made from cow’s milk or from another animal or from rice, are suitable for babies and young children because they comply with the very strict regulations imposed on infant formulas. They contain the right amounts of calcium, vitamins, essential fatty acids, etc. Moreover, they can be an alternative for parents who do not want to give their babies infant formula made from cow’s milk.