I really didn’t know how to dive into this subject because I was literally speechless, or more accurately, type-less when I read that toddlers are the newest guinea pigs in an ongoing science experiment being conducted by the largest companies in the world. How do you tackle a national health crisis when the largest corporations (in this particular case it’s Mead-Johnson) are programming our children to crave sugar? But wait, there IS an upside. Ready? “omega-3s for brain development, 25 nutrients for healthy growth, and prebiotics to support the immune system”. HAHAHA, thank you clever marketing groups and food scientists! I’m pretty sure that the old fashion milk does the same thing.
The Situation
Before I go any farther I guess I should explain. Mead-Johnson likes to make money. The only way to make lots of money is to come up with schemes to make consumers feel like they are missing out on something they truly don’t need. It’s not entirely unexpected because nobody starts a business without the intent of profit. After all, it is the American dream! It’s funny, because my dream (as an American) has nothing to do with catchy one liners and fonts on a package. It’s not about endorsements or stamps of approval. And it sure as hell isn’t about targeting a group of individuals who have no decision making capabilities but are so fragile that the true decision makers (parents) will do anything to help ensure their best interests. And by anything, I mean fall for marketing campaigns that cause panic and create the willingness to make spontaneous, uneducated decisions! These companies’ actions have, in turn, created multiple groups and researchers who are dedicating time, effort and funds trying to explain why our population is experiencing negative health trends (not to mention keeping this blog going, so why am I complaining right?). Maybe they (researchers) should look at the obvious answers…I hate to say it but this one is more common sense than science. If you can’t identify the problem when you see chocolate milk for toddlers then maybe you shouldn’t be trying to solve or explain these types of troubles in the first place.
The Product
Ingredients for your 12-36 month old are:
- Whole milk
- Nonfat milk
- Sugar
- Cocoa
- Galactooligosaccharides (prebiotic fiber)
- High oleic sunflower oil
Think of this you crazy Mead-Johnson folks: you didn’t have this formula when you were growing up & how did you turn out? Is your brain developed? Immune system ok? Did you grow? Actually, maybe the “developed brain” is a bad question to ask, I mean you are feeding chocolate milk to babies for a buck. Those same babies will then be featured on Jamie Oliver’s food experiment as the kids who can’t put down the chocolate and strawberry milk in the school cafeterias.
Making a Decision
Jamie Oliver’s attempt to get that sh#$ out of the school cafeterias should have opened a few eyes as to what kind of challenge we have in front of us. For those who didn’t see this, kids who were instructed by their teacher to drink white milk, drank white milk (even when flavored milk was available)! It’s amazing the influence an adult has over a child! It is almost like their little brains are sponges absorbing everything…oh wait, they are!!!
I need to make one thing very clear so I don’t hear about it later…I love chocolate milk. I drink it after many workouts because it does have benefits. It also has some drawbacks which I am aware of and still make a conscious decision to consume. What’s the big difference between me and an infant (I heard that 
)? The difference is I’m old enough and educated enough to know the consequences of my actions. Your baby has no choice! You give him/her that supplement and you have undoubtedly created another soldier in the obese army.
I will say it’s not just Mead-Johnson but this one really got under my skin. There are more than a few products you see on the shelf that are promoting benefits without highlighting the risks. I’m not going to mention any others but believe me when I say that as a group, we are all way too gullible when it comes to who we trust with our health. Next time you pick up your favorite “healthy” snack ask yourself if the suits at corporate headquarters wanted you to be healthier or if they wanted to post a quarterly profit? Hmmmmmmm…I wonder. I’m sure they have my best interests in mind
Babies don’t look cute with brown milk mustaches,
TTH
