Nearly all infant formulas sold in the United States contain mostly added sugars instead of the healthier lactose found in breast milk, according to new research.
The study found that up to 90 percent of the carbohydrates in many formula products come from added sugars—substances explicitly not recommended for children younger than age 2 by health authorities.
Up to 90 Percent Added Sugar
The study, recently published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, investigated the sugar content in 73 U.S. infant formulas available in 2022. Researchers categorized these formulas into three types: standard, gentle, and lactose-free.
George Citroner
Author
George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
