Misleading label puts infants’ health at risk

Children’s health is being put at risk by a misleading coffee creamer label, a recent study indicates.

The study claims that the Bear Brand label, which depicts a cartoon baby bear being held by its mother in the breastfeeding position, wrongly suggests that the product is suitable for children.

Twenty-six paediatricians and nearly 1,100 parents took part in the survey in Laos. Of the paediatricians, 24 said that the creamer was “often” or “sometimes” fed to children as a substitute for breast milk. Of the parents surveyed:

• Ninety-six per cent believed that the product contained milk
• Forty-six per cent assumed the product was suitable to be used as a breast milk substitute, based on the cartoon logo
• Eighty per cent had not read the written warning on the packaging that stated that the creamer should not be given to children
• Over 18% admitted to feeding the product to their child within the first six months.

The coffee creamer does not provide sufficient nutrition to children – infants who are fed the creamer as a breast milk substitute risk malnutrition.

The logo is also used on the Bear Brand’s infant formula products, which are suitable for infants aged over six months. The study calls for the brand to remove the logo from any of its products that are not infant formula.