Pomeranz Jennifer L, Romo Palafox Maria J, Harris Jennifer L
College of Global Public Health, New York University, NY, New York, United States.
Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, United States.
Prev Med. 2018 Apr;109:11-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2018.01.009. Epub 2018 Jan 12.
Toddler drinks are a growing category of drinks marketed for young children 9-36 months old. Medical experts do not recommend them, and public health experts raise concerns about misleading labeling practices. In the U.S., the toddler drink category includes two types of products: transition formulas, marketed for infants and toddlers 9-24 months; and toddler milks, for children 12-36 months old. The objective of this study was to evaluate toddler drink labeling practices in light of U.S. food labeling policy and international labeling recommendations. In January 2017, we conducted legal research on U.S. food label laws and regulations; collected and evaluated toddler drink packages, including nutrition labels and claims; and compared toddler drink labels with the same brand's infant formula labels. We found that the U.S. has a regulatory structure for food labels and distinct policies for infant formula, but no laws specific to toddler drinks. Toddler drink labels utilized various terms and images to identify products and intended users; made multiple health and nutrition claims; and some stated there was scientific or expert support for the product. Compared to the same manufacturer's infant formula labels, most toddler drink labels utilized similar colors, branding, logos, and graphics. Toddler drink labels may confuse consumers about their nutrition and health benefits and the appropriateness of these products for young children. To support healthy toddler diets and well-informed decision-making by caregivers, the FDA can provide guidance or propose regulations clarifying permissible toddler drink labels and manufacturers should end inappropriate labeling practices.
幼儿饮品是一类面向9至36个月大幼儿销售的不断增长的饮品类别。医学专家不推荐饮用这类饮品，公共卫生专家对其误导性的标签标注做法表示担忧。在美国，幼儿饮品类别包括两种产品：过渡配方奶粉，面向9至24个月大的婴幼儿销售；以及幼儿牛奶，面向12至36个月大的儿童。本研究的目的是根据美国食品标签政策和国际标签建议来评估幼儿饮品的标签标注做法。2017年1月，我们对美国食品标签法律法规进行了法律研究；收集并评估了幼儿饮品包装，包括营养标签和声明；并将幼儿饮品标签与同一品牌的婴儿配方奶粉标签进行了比较。我们发现，美国有食品标签监管架构以及针对婴儿配方奶粉的不同政策，但没有专门针对幼儿饮品的法律。幼儿饮品标签使用各种术语和图像来识别产品及目标用户；做出了多项健康和营养声明；有些还表示该产品有科学或专家支持。与同一制造商的婴儿配方奶粉标签相比，大多数幼儿饮品标签使用了相似的颜色、品牌、标识和图案。幼儿饮品标签可能会使消费者对其营养和健康益处以及这些产品对幼儿的适用性产生困惑。为了支持幼儿健康饮食以及照顾者做出明智的决策，美国食品药品监督管理局可以提供指导或提议制定法规，以明确允许使用的幼儿饮品标签，并且制造商应该停止不恰当的标签标注做法。
