Baby Milk Powders


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Brands Tested

Proprietary foods are not standardised under FSS Regulations. Since both the brands are consumed by infants, we included them in our study.

Unit Price

Considering the unit price per 100 grams, Dexolac is the cheapest brand and PediaSure is the costliest, followed by Ensure and Similac.

The Report

Packaging

The complementary food should be packed in a clean, hermetically sealed metal container (IS 11078) or in a flexible pack o a to protect the from deterioration. In case plastic material is used for flexible packing, only food-grade plastic shall be used (IS 10171). The product has to be packed in nitrogen or a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The product shall be packed in qualities as stipulated under Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules.

  • All brands were packed as per the legal requirements.

    • Marking

    The following details are necessary on each package:

    • Name of the material and trademark, if any
    • Name and address of manufacturer
    • Batch or code number
    • Net weight in grams
    • Date of manufacture
    • List of ingredients
    • Nutritional Claims
    • Permitted additives
    • Maximum retail price (MRP)
    • Use before/ Expiry date
    • Statutory declaration
    • ISI marked and 'green dot' marking for vegetarian status
    • Feed chart and direction for use and storage

    Except Ensure and PediaSure, all brands had the necessary ISI marking. However, several of their claims turned out to be different from the tested results. Some of these findings are discussed here.

    Total Fat

    The brand were tested to see how much the fat (in grams) was per 100 grams. As per Indian Standard and FSSAI, the fat should mandatorily be a minimum 18% and a maximum of 27% by mass.

  • Although there was a slight difference between the declared values on the packets and the values found in our test results, there was nothing to be alarmed about a the values obtained were within permissible limits. At 24.4 %, the highest fat was found in PediaSure, followed by Lactogen at 19.36%.

    Total milk protein

    As per Indian Standard and FSSAI, the protein should be a minimum 13.5% and a maximum 24.75% by mass.

  • In this test too, the team found variations between the declared values on the packets and the values given by the actual test results. Again, there was nothing to be alarmed about as the values were obtained within the permissible limits.
  • The maximum protein content was found at 16.59% in Dexolac, and the lowest at 14.35% in Lactogen.

    • Energy Value

    When prepared with the instructions for use, 100 ml of the ready-for-consumption product should provide not less than 60 kilo calories and not more than 85 kilo calories.

  • All brands met the requirements. The maximum energy value was found in Ensure (proprietary food), while the lowest content of the same was observed in Dexolac.

    • Carbohydrates

    As per Indian Standard, the product shall contain nutritionally available carbohydrates suitable for the feeding of the older infant and young child in such quantities as to adjust the product to the energy density.

  • Nothing extraordinary was found in this test. The maximum carbohydrate content at 65.86% was found in Ensure, and the lowest at 54.94% was in PediaSure.

    • Calcium

    It is the value of calcium content per 100 grams of baby milk powder.

    Zinc

    It the amount of zinc per 100 grams of baby milk powder

    Iron

    It the amount of Iron per 100 grams of baby milk powder.

    Choline

    Choline is a nutrient that supports various bodily functions, including cellular growth and metabolism. It is a nutrient that supports the development of baby's brain and neural tube. Babies get this nutrient from their mothers when they are in womb.

    Whey Casein Ratio

    This the ratio of whey protien to the casein protein.The whey/casein ratio in human milk fluctuates between 70/30 and 80/20 in early lactation and decreases to 50/50 in late lactation. Whey protein is easier to digest than casein protein. The more the whey protein the easier is the milk to digest.