Nutritional labels come in handy at breakfast, but there is one place where sugar content isn't listed and many argue it's the most critical food of all.
"We looked at all of the formulas in the grocery store, even the store brand ones, and none of them listed the sugar grams per serving. None of them," said Nancy Brecj
It turns out that's not required, so an independent lab analyzed some popular formulas.
Scientists tested for 5 types of sugar. Even though, at first glance, Enfamil Premium and Parent's Choice Premium infant formulas topped the list for sugar content, both contain lactose, the same type of sugar found in human breast milk, and in roughly the same proportion. Still, no formula is an exact match for breast milk.
Three varieties tested low for any sugar: Gerber Good Start, Similac Advance Complete and Enfamil Pro-Sobee.
But two other kinds - Similac Advance Organic Complete Nutrition and Similac Soy Infant Formula - contain added sugar, the sweetest kind of all – sucrose - which is ordinary table sugar.
In Europe, concern over childhood obesity led to a ban on sucrose in baby formula.
"We're conditioning them to crave sweetness," said Dr. Kevin Boyd, pediatric dentist
Boyd, who has a master’s in nutrition and dietetics, says the impact of added sugars on babies is huge.
"They're conditioned to just really like super sweet. And their fat cells are saying more, more, more please,” he said.
Some of the formulas taste so sweet, Boyd calls them "baby milkshakes." It’s a major factor, he believes, in our country's battle with childhood obesity.
The International Formula Council points out that sucrose has been shown to be safe. At the same time, the American Academy of Pediatricians and other health organizations recommend breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of life. But if you can't breastfeed, talk to your doctor
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