Rice Milk A No No For Children

[HugsAndKisses]

hey everyone,

DP told me just yesterday that there was an article in our local newspaper of a child who was given rice milk to drink at a young age and apparently 5 years later he died:crying: the story is just bassically saying parents should avoid it with children...has anyone else ever heard this????:confused:
i just thought id let u all know as i would not have known about this...

[poshBecks]

So how can they prove that the rice cereal he had 5 years earlier is what killed him? Very curious... ( I dont even know what rice milk is :confused: )

[HugsAndKisses]

im not sure really as i did not get to read it myself only DP did...but i just thought id let u all know wat i was told....ive never even heard of rice milk either????

[annb]

it wasnt rice cereal the baby was having it was rice milk which doesnt have the correct nutritional properties as breastmilk/cows milk/formula so the baby died of malnutrition basically

"Rice milk is a kind of grain milk processed from rice. It is mostly made from brown rice and commonly sweetened with sugarcane syrup. Compared with cow's milk, it contains more carbohydrates, but does not contain significant amounts of calcium or protein, and no cholesterol or lactose. Commercial brands of rice milk, however, are often fortified with vitamins and minerals, including calcium, vitamin B12, vitamin B3, and iron"

[poshBecks]

it wasnt rice cereal the baby was having it was rice milk which doesnt have the correct nutritional properties as breastmilk/cows milk/formula so the baby died of malnutrition basically


Oh dear!! That is really bad!!!! Now it makes sense!!

[xkwzit]

I've posted on roughly this topic before (and I'm going to be lazy and copy myself :D )


I remember a story where a baby died of malnutrition because her parents were feeding her rice milk instead of breast milk or formula. She was 5 months old.
The Age: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...544070623.html
Sydney Morning Herald: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/...544073909.html

I also found a general warning about giving these milk alternatives to children under 2 years:
http://www.mydr.com.au/default.asp?Article=3789

The hub has a tonne of useful feeding information (although if you, like me, always go straight to the forum, you may miss it). Check out our introducing solids guidelines for basic information and further links on appropriate foods for babies and toddlers:
http://www.bubhub.com.au/infosolids.shtml

Cheers

[reAllytee]

I give DS rice milk to make up his cereal of a morning etc because i cant add his formula to too many things otherwise he over doses so to speak on it & ends up sick due to his intolerance.
But i would never feed him rice milk soley !
It even says on the carton not for kids under 2yrs !!!!!!! :shame:

[Mum&bubs]

Well up until now i had never even heard of rice milk ??? :confused: But thanks for all the info though!

[reAllytee]

We used rice milk for two of our children at the age of 12months onwards. They were both lactose intolerant and any form of milk wether it be lactose free or not would cause them to become very blocked in the nose and wheezy. You have to use the one thats fortified with calcium tho. And you have to increase there consumption of yoghurt and cheese which strangly enough doesnt cause them to have the same reaction as milk does. There are reasons why people use it but as my paeditrician stated it shouldnt be used under the age of 12months. But I would be very suspicioius about that whole article because for a child to die 5 years later it just sounds rather odd to me.

Yes this is Boof's problem he gets all sinusy & then gets revolting bm's !!!!
But funnily enough he actually gets more of a reaction to yoghurt if he has too much as well as too much milk !

[HugsAndKisses]

thanks for all the replies girls sorry my post was a bit unexplained...
i think it a bit odd he died 5 years later too but DP says thats wat he read...:shame:
but again thankyou for explaining rice milk a bit more as i had never even heard of it...

[sweetvanilla]

Oh well, with these days technology, they can detect almost anything.

But then, on good old days, I am not sure how ppl like my parents time could infact live longer than most ppl now .

[pestiferous]

If the child died while using rice milk for 5 years, It's entirely possible there was some form of allergy which only triggered after a build-up of the allergen in his/her system ? not saying it's likely, but i suppose it is possible. Though I'd guess the risk of this happening would be the same for any product.

If he died 5 years after the parents gave him rice milk, I'd be inclined to think they were clutching at straws (They may found some distant link between rice milk and whatever s/he died of and to fulfill their own need to 'know why', have blamed the milk.) that, or the story was written by yet another dollar sign journalist who know's any baby dies from headline gets talked about.. :rolleyes:

Most likely IF rice milk was even a contributing factor, i would guess the parents relied solely on the substitute and failed to provide the missing nutrients in other ways. (how this would go on for 5 years without being noticed is beyond me)

Personally i think this is the most plausible reason for ANY of these baby dies from rice milk, or soy or whatever stories.

the fact is when choosing between, Rice ,Soy or Cow's milk, none of them have the essential nutrients that breast milk has for infants. so if you CAN then BREAST FEED. and if you cant, i think from memory, formula is the closest 'all in one' substitute on the market. In o way am i saying you should use formula, my point is.

As long as you research every option and ensure the child receives any 'missing nutrients' through other sources. it 's a matter of which YOUR child reacts best to, NOT which method is being bagged out this week.

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[HugsAndKisses]

yes i can see the reason now as to why some parents need to give there children this milk..as ive said i didnt know much about it and at first was annoyed any parent would give it to there infant, but now as many of u have said it is necesary at times i can totally understand:yes:
just hope this thread hasnt offended anyone at all:eek:

[nicoleE]

a healthy alternative to cows milk for those who are lactose intollerant is of course Soy Milk. They are fortified with all sorts and soy has its own health benefits so dont over look it (but consult your GP)

[red apple]

Got this from my sis today: highly topical:



Media release and advice sheet from Food Standards Australia New Zealand



FSANZ ISSUES ADVICE ON RICE AND OAT BEVERAGES


(27 June 2006)

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today issued advice that cereal based beverages, such as those made from rice and oats, are not suitable as a complete milk replacement for children under five years.

FSANZ’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Bob Boyd, said that cereal based beverages, which are mainly used as a milk or soy beverage substitute, contain only 10% of the protein found in milk.

‘We have recently allowed manufacturers to add selected vitamins and minerals, including calcium, riboflavin and vitamin D, to these products so they can better reflect the nutritional content of milk but not all manufacturers may choose to add these.

‘Consumers, caregivers and health professionals need to be aware that cereal-based beverages have a lower protein content than milk. This is particularly important if children are consuming cereal-based beverages, as children require adequate protein for normal growth and development.

‘Milk is an important source of protein for most children, particularly those under the age of 5 years. Therefore, if a child needs to consume cereal-based beverages instead of dairy or soy beverages, adequate protein from other food sources will be needed to replace the protein normally provided by milk.

‘All cereal-based beverages with a low protein content must carry an advisory statement on the label that the product is not suitable as a complete milk replacement for children under the age of five years.

‘Consumers and caregivers should seek advice from a doctor or dietitian on the correct use of cereal-based beverages, especially if the beverages are to be consumed by children. Young children with allergy/intolerance to dairy and/or soy foods may have access to a hypoallergenic formula, which is suitable as a complete milk replacement,’ Dr Boyd concluded.

The FSANZ Fact sheet – Cereal-Based Beverages is available from their website at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/factsheets/factsheets2006/cerealbasedbeverages3265.cfm (http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/factsheets/factsheets2006/cerealbasedbeverages3265.cfm)

Media Contact: Lydia Buchtmann, FSANZ 02 6271 2620 or 0401 714 265 or from New Zealand +61 2 6271 2620 or +61 411 268 525




Cereal-Based Beverages (e.g. rice and oat beverages)


(June 2006)


What are cereal-based beverages and what is their purpose?

Cereal-based beverages are derived from cereals such as rice and oats, and are mainly used as a milk or soy beverage substitute. Cereal-based beverages are used by people who are allergic/intolerant to dairy and/or soy foods, or by those who choose not to consume dairy products either for health or philosophical reasons.

For those people with allergies/intolerances to dairy and/or soy foods, cereal-based beverages can be used to replace milk or soy beverage as a drink and as an ingredient in baking and cooking. For those wishing to avoid dairy products for other reasons, such as vegans, cereal-based beverages extend the range of milk substitutes available.


Is the composition of cereal-based beverages comparable to milk?

No, the composition of cereal-based beverages is different to the composition of milk. The amount of protein in cereal-based beverages is much less than in milk, as cereal-based beverages generally only contain about 10% of the protein found in milk. Some cereal-based beverages now contain added protein, however their protein content is still not equal to milk.

The vitamin and mineral content also differs between milk and cereal-based beverages. Milk naturally contains higher levels and a broader range of vitamins and minerals compared with cereal-based beverages.

From February 2006, cereal-based beverages are permitted to contain added selected vitamins and minerals, including calcium, riboflavin and vitamin D, according to theAustralia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These added vitamins and minerals allow cereal-based beverages to better reflect the nutritional content of milk. It is important to note that these permissions are voluntary, and therefore each manufacturer of cereal-based beverages may choose to add none, some or all of the permitted vitamins and minerals.


Why are cereal-based beverages not suitable as a complete milk replacement for children under 5 years of age?

Consumers, caregivers and health professionals need to be aware that cereal-based beverages generally only contain about 10% of the protein found in milk. This is particularly important if children are consuming cereal-based beverages, as children require adequate protein for normal growth and development. Milk is an important source of protein for most children, particularly those under the age of 5 years. Therefore, if a child needs to consume cereal-based beverages instead of dairy or soy beverages, adequate protein from other food sources will be needed to replace the protein normally provided by milk.


Why is an advisory statement required for these products?

Due to the low protein content of cereal-based beverages and the risk of inadequate protein intake for children consuming these products, an advisory statement specific to these products is now required. An advisory statement indicating thatthe product is not suitable as a complete milk replacement for children under the age of five years must appear on the packaging of all cereal-based beverages with a low protein content.
Who should I contact for more information?

It is recommended that consumers and caregivers seek advice from a dietitian or their doctor on the correct use of cereal-based beverages, especially if these beverages are to be consumed by children. It is important to note that these products are not suitable for those people allergic to the cereal(s) from which the beverages are derived, for example rice and/or oat. Young children with allergy/intolerance may have access to a hypoallergenic formula, which is suitable as a complete milk replacement.

[reAllytee]

a healthy alternative to cows milk for those who are lactose intollerant is of course Soy Milk. They are fortified with all sorts and soy has its own health benefits so dont over look it (but consult your GP)

Of course it is but when you have a child like mine or Mrs Casper who are actually allergic to the protein which is found in both cows & soy then sometimes rice milk is an alternative. But of course never as a complete substitute as has been stated in the media release above.
I would rather have DS on soy or cows lol much cheaper !
But again i only use it to make his cereal for brekky & any other extras like custard etc he has toddler formula otherwise.

Consulting your g.p is a definate must !

Mrs Casper - Yeah im thinking of going to a naturopath it cant hurt either way thing is we are lucky that its not a major intolerance like a lot of kids. He is more like me if he has too much he gets sick etc. But i find it weird that yoghurt makes it worse :confused: So yeah i think the naturpath is the next option :yes:

[MamaSage]

Soy is also very high in phytooestrogens, not great for little boys. Soy can be just as allergenic as cows milk...

[reAllytee]

Soy is also very high in phytooestrogens, not great for little boys. Soy can be just as allergenic as cows milk...


Yes that explains it better ..... Dont mind my mushy brain :o

[jessgray]

i think there is a piece missing in the story 5 years seems a bit odd to me.

my DS tried rice milk but he didnt take to it and he got the runs if i remember correctly (preggy brain lol) it wasnt till after he had it i noticed it said on the carton not suitable for under 5.