Ingredients of Sweetened Condensed Milk
Sweetened condensed milk contains a very high sugar content, with a minimum of 20 grams of sucrose per glass. Sweetened condensed milk has 1 gram less protein value than other milk. In fact, there are sweetened condensed milk products that do not contain milk in them.
Compared to sweetened condensed milk, formula milk has a nutritional content similar to breast milk. The difference is, formula milk is a processed milk product based on cow's milk, soy, amino acids, and partially hydrolyzed proteins.
Formula milk also contains polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid (ARA) and omega-3 fatty acids (DHA). These contents are beneficial for the brain, nervous system, and eye development of babies.
Sweetened condensed milk is only used as an additive and should not be used as a substitute for formula milk for toddlers.
Case of SKM
Use Research results explain that in DKI Jakarta and West Java Provinces, 84.1% to 90.5% indicate the impact of COVID-19 on the economy of families using sweetened condensed milk and the lack of mothers' knowledge about sweetened condensed milk and its side effects.
Meanwhile, in East Java, Maluku, and NTT, the main factor in the use of sweetened condensed milk is the low knowledge of mothers about sweetened condensed milk and its side effects. Of the total of 2068 respondents surveyed in five provinces, the majority of respondents had relatively low education levels.
The research results also explain that out of 400 respondents in Kendari, 97% of respondents have the perception that sweetened condensed milk is milk. This is caused by television product advertisements and product packaging information. In Batam area.
The main factors and reasons found in Kendari and Batam areas are that children do not want other milk. Another factor found is that 4.6% to 12% in Kendari and Batam areas consider sweetened condensed milk as a substitute for breast milk/formula milk.
Therefore, giving sweetened condensed milk as a substitute for formula milk for toddlers can be influenced by several factors, such as the family's socio-economic condition, low family income so that mothers choose other more affordable alternatives, low level of education, and the belief that sweetened condensed milk still has the milk content needed by toddlers.
Negative Impact of SKM
1. Laziness to Eat
We often hear complaints from parents about toddlers who have difficulty eating, this can happen because toddlers are accustomed to consuming food or drinks with very strong flavors, so when they are given homemade food, they tend not to like the taste and aroma because it will taste bland.
2. Obesity
Excessive sugar content in sweetened condensed milk triggers obesity in children. This is caused by the lack of diverse nutrients consumed by children if they consume sweetened condensed milk every day, children also feel full longer so mothers rarely provide other foods that can increase nutritional intake for children.
3. Stunting
The composition of sweetened condensed milk, which is no longer pure milk and contains more sugar, causes the nutritional content of sweetened condensed milk to be no better than formula milk. This causes children not to get the nutrition they should get during growth if they always consume sweetened condensed milk, if this continues to be done by mothers to give sweetened condensed milk to children as a substitute for complementary feeding (MPASI) or formula milk, the risk of children experiencing stunting will increase.
4. Diabetes
The high sugar content in sweetened condensed milk can also trigger the risk of diabetes in children. High sugar levels in the body can cause a decrease in insulin hormone sensitivity in the body, leading to the risk of diabetes.
5. Tooth Damage
Sweetened condensed milk contains a very high sugar content, so the remaining milk drunk will stick to the teeth and cause tooth decay. If the cleanliness of the child's mouth and teeth is not well maintained, it will cause tooth decay, which will gradually become worse and become the cause of cavities.
Let's be wiser in choosing nutritional intake for our children. Although sweetened condensed milk seems practical, it is best used only as an additive and not as a substitute for formula milk. Better knowledge about the negative effects of sweetened condensed milk, such as the risk of obesity, stunting, diabetes, and tooth damage, will help us make better decisions for the health of our children. Come on, choose healthier and safer nutritional alternatives for their future!
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