Infant growth milk products face consumer criticism and safety agency warning

Humana has introduced two fortified infant growth milks, Humana 3 ProBalance for children 12‑24 months and Humana 4 ProBalance for those over 24 months. The formulas contain iron, alpha‑linolenic acid, vitamins A, C, D and zinc, with calcium added to the older‑age product, and are marketed as supplements to support bone, brain and immune development.

A consumer‑rights test by Italy’s Altroconsumo found that such “growth milks” are unnecessary for toddlers. The report says regular cow’s milk combined with a balanced diet supplies needed nutrients such as DHA, iron, vitamin D and iodine. It also criticises the products for high sugar content, added cost (about €0.80 per litre versus regular milk) and the presence of potentially carcinogenic contaminants. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has called the “growth milk” label misleading and sees no specific role for these products in the diet of children aged one to three.

Altroconsumo recommends using fresh pasteurised cow’s milk and obtaining missing nutrients from a varied diet rather than from specialized infant milks.