October 24, 2023 — Researchers who analyzed 145 of the milk alternatives blogs most popular with parents of children under five found that most bloggers had no medical or diet expertise. The research was presented at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exposition, in Washington DC, USA.
In the United States, many parents consult online sources about milk alternatives, while 47% of “top” bloggers have no medical training. Of the remaining bloggers, 32% were nutritionists or dietitians, 12% were doctors or nurses, 5% were holistic providers, and 4% were doctors and scientists.
“The large number of online blogs discussing alternatives to milk for toddlers suggests that this is an issue of great interest to caregivers, who may turn to blogs that provide information not substantiated and nutritional recommendations on milk substitutes,” explains Kara Sangiuolo, lead author of the study. researcher and medical student at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Treat the subject
The study found that bloggers were most likely to recommend soy milk (37%) and pea milk (17%) as better alternatives. The most commonly cited options were soy milk (84%), almond milk (79%) and rice milk (65%).
“I believe there is a major opportunity for pediatricians and pediatric nutritionists to enter the online space and provide more accurate and consistent information to help caregivers looking to transition their little ones away from breast milk “, notes Sangiuolo.
A recent study found that non-medical practitioners created most milk alternatives blogs that referenced children’s nutrition.
“Several blogs included unsupported recommendations, such as making unfortified homemade milks for growing toddlers. The lack of consistent information between blogs was concerning, and only half of all blogs discussed the nutritional composition of cow’s milk alternatives.
Fourteen blogs recommended making homemade milks for toddlers; two said homemade dairy products were the best alternative.
“This reveals the need for greater dissemination of accurate nutritional recommendations regarding alternatives to cow’s milk from pediatricians and nutritionists. This information can be disseminated online to reach caregivers and better promote healthy development and nutrition of toddlers during early childhood,” says Sangiuolo.
Nut milk debate
The research was supported by Cohen Children’s Medical Center’s Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
In other industry news, the European Parliament voted against the inclusion of vegetable milklike almond milk, in the European Farm to School program – which is part of the European Green Deal – causing an outcry among health and environmental activists, who accuse those in the dairy industry of “bringing a significant blow” to European diets.
As more people consume plant-based dairy products for health and nutrition reasons, Safefood says these products often contain less protein and, in some cases, less calcium than their dairy-based counterparts. Another survey of Irish consumers found that these results are at odds with their perceptions of the nutritional value of plant-based products.
By Inga de Jong
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