Does Goat Milk Formula Contain Added Sugar?
It’s rather hard to ignore shocking headlines like Nestlé adds sugar to infant milk sold in poorer countries and Some baby formula milk contains more sugar than Fanta.
More sugar than Fanta?! Yikes.
While some of this press may be exaggerated by the media, we won’t sugar coat it: some infant formula DOES contain added sugar and sweetener. This is despite the fact that the World Health Organization has called for a ban on sugar additives to products for babies and children under three.
If you’re worried about the sugar content in goat’s milk formula, this article will help give you peace of mind when choosing the right formula for your baby.
Sugar in goat’s milk formula: What’s the deal?
It’ll come as no surprise to you that goat’s milk formula with added sugar – or any infant formula that rivals a can of Fanta in sugar content! – is not a great option for your little one
Is sugar in infant formula harmful?
Formula with added sugar won’t necessarily make your baby unwell, but there are certainly negative health effects of sugar in goat’s milk formula.
The main concerns from a health perspective are:
- It’s addictive – Early exposure to sugar in infant formula can make kids more predisposed to prefer sugary foods.
- It can impact dental health – Added sugars can increase the amount of bacteria in the mouth, leading to dental health issues.
- It’s linked to health conditions – This includes obesity, diabetes and heart disease in later life.
- It can cause digestive discomfort – High levels of added sugars, such as sucrose and fructose, can lead to gas, bloating or diarrhoea in some babies. (And believe us, tiny bellies are under enough pressure trying to digest things as it is!)
Does Oli6 Goat Milk Formula contain added sugar?
We can safely assure you that Oli6 Goat Milk Formula does NOT contain added sugar. The same goes for our follow-on formula, toddler milk and junior drink.
But we can’t speak for other brands of goat’s milk formula on the market.
What we CAN do is offer information on how to read goat’s milk formula labels and identify which ingredients to avoid to ensure you’re not buying a product that contains added sugars or sweeteners.
Is all sugar in baby formula bad?
No! Some sugars (think: lactose) are naturally occurring and actually good for bubs.
Sugars are a type of carbohydrate. They’re vital for energy, brain development, and growth.
So before you toss out your formula tins with any -ose ingredient listed on the tin, let’s get a few things straight about which sugars are added and which are naturally occurring.
Natural vs. added sugars in goat milk formula
There is natural lactose in goat’s milk formula
Lactose is a naturally occurring milk sugar present in human breast milk and animal milks. Aside from adding a mild sweet flavour to milk, it does a few things important things for infant nutrition:
- Aids calcium absorption
- Supports gut health, immune function and digestion
- Supports metabolism.
There’s less lactose in goat’s milk formula than cow’s milk formula, however goat’s milk has a higher amount and variety of oligosaccharides – another type of prebiotic milk sugar.
Oligosaccharides in goat’s milk are more similar to human milk oligosaccharides. As such, goat’s milk formula tends to be easier for babies to digest. It’s sometimes preferred over cow’s milk formula for babies with sensitivities such as cow’s milk protein allergy, colic or reflux.
To summarise: Lactose = natural, good sugar in goat’s milk formula.
Identifying added sugars in goat milk formula: Ingredients to be wary of
Sucrose in goat’s milk formula
This is effectively your common table sugar made from a combination of fructose and glucose. It holds almost no nutritional benefits, usually added to formula to enhance the taste. Oli6 does NOT contain sucrose.
Fructose in goat’s milk formula
This type of sugar is found naturally in fruit, however it’s considered an added sugar when it’s in milk formula. That said, added synthetic probiotics fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) may contain traces of fructose. Oli6 does NOT contain fructose.
Glucose syrup in goat’s milk formula
Some goat’s milk formula (not Oli6) contains glucose syrup as a carrier ingredient so companies can more easily add vitamins, minerals and dietary fibres to the product.
Corn syrup in goat’s milk formula
Nearly half of infant formula in the US contains corn syrup. It’s a pretty controversial one, folks!
Cheaper to use than natural sugars, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in particular has been linked to nasty health effects, and is sometimes made from genetically modified corn. (We’re not big on GMOs around here.)
In short: Corn syrup is typically an ingredient to avoid in goat’s milk formula. Oli6 does NOT contain corn syrup.
Maltodextrin in goat’s milk formula
Maltodextrin is a plant-based additive used as a sweetener and thickener in some baby formulas. It’s considered safe for babies, but is still a highly processed carbohydrate. Oli6 does NOT contain Maltodextrin.
Why would sugar be added to goat’s milk formula?
Often these artificial sugars are added to formula simply to enhance the taste or texture.
Some infant formula designed for babies with lactose intolerance is made with added sugars as an alternative to lactose. It’s worth noting that lactose intolerance in babies is quite rare and should be diagnosed by a qualified paediatrician. (Read: all babies spew, it’s not always a sign of a lactose allergy.)
Parents should also be mindful that formulas with added fructose or sucrose can be risky for babies with inherited fructose intolerance.
Comparing goat milk formulas for sugar content
The best way to assess whether a type of infant formula has added sugar in it is to look at the list of ingredients. You can have a go at checking goat’s milk formula ingredients by peeking at some ingredients lists in our article on how Oli6 Goat Milk Formula compares to other types of formula.
It’s also interesting to note that different countries have different regulations around sugar content in infant formula. Europe and Australia, for example, have much stricter guidelines around what sugars can be added. In the US, it’s more common to find sucrose and other types of added sugar in infant formula.
Choosing the right goat’s milk formula
When it comes down to it, there’s so much more to infant formula than just sugar. Getting too hung up on the sugar content of your goat’s milk formula may not be as beneficial as noting the wider nutrient balance.
You’d be hard pressed to find a formula without any form of sugar, too. Thing is, babies need sugar to give them energy and help them grow. The key is knowing which sugars are good sugars, and which to avoid.
Keep in mind: Lactose is the primary sugar carbohydrate in human breast milk, and OG mama milk is what infant formula is trying its best to emulate. Breastfeeding is always the gold standard of infant nutrition where possible. But when that’s not an option, high quality formula can still do a top notch job.
As always, we recommend chatting to your paediatrician to get personalised advice on what type of formula your little one would most benefit from.
Interested in trying Oli6 Goat Milk Formula for your tiny person? Find our products in Chemist Warehouse, Woolworths and Coles, or shop online.
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