Parents urged to scrutinise milk labels for children’s safety and nutritional adequacy

Caregivers are advised to look beyond attractive packaging and focus on detailed nutritional information and age suitability when selecting milk products for children, to ensure safety and proper nutrition.

Parents choosing milk for children are being urged to look beyond packaging claims and focus instead on whether a product actually suits a child’s age and nutritional needs. In an article published by VIVA, paediatric nutrition specialist Felianty Badralany said one of the first things caregivers should check is the nutrition information panel on the carton or tin, along with how often the child will drink it. That advice aligns with guidance from American Academy of Pediatrics resources, which say food labels can help families make better choices when they understand serving size, calories and nutrient content.

The appeal of eye-catching packaging can be misleading. Labels that highlight added vitamins, high calcium content or supposedly safer packaging should not distract parents from reading the full nutrition facts panel, because the most useful information is often in the small print. The American Academy of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital of Orange County both note that label reading helps families compare products more accurately, especially when checking added sugars, protein, fibre and other nutrients that matter in a child’s diet.

Age suitability is just as important. The VIVA report stresses that parents should make sure a product is intended for their child’s stage of development, since nutritional needs change as children grow. That is particularly relevant for sweetened condensed milk, which Indonesia’s Food and Drug Authority, BPOM, has said cannot be used as a sole source of nutrition and should not be treated as a substitute for breast milk or as a main milk drink for infants. BPOM has also required warning statements on such products to reduce confusion among consumers.

Experts also warn that packaging designed to appeal to children can shape perceptions and influence food choices more than parents may realise. A review in Nutrients found that child-targeted packaging can affect attitudes and behaviour around foods, which helps explain why bright colours, characters and health claims can be so persuasive. The practical message from nutrition specialists and regulators is consistent: check the label, confirm the intended age group, and treat promotional claims with caution before putting any milk product into a child’s diet.