Is ‘Milo’ Unhealthy for Children Below 6 Years? Find Out the Facts…

Advisory notices placed by food and beverage brands often get widely discussed on social media platforms. However, these posts are sometimes misleading as they do not have proper context.

Social Media Posts 

A viral claim circulating on social media platforms asserts that Milo, the popular malted chocolate drink, is “very unhealthy for children below 6 years” and that this warning is “boldly written” on the product’s official website. 

These posts also encourage parents to replace Milo with natural foods for young children. Let’s dive into the facts behind this claim.

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Fact Check 

The Origin of the Claim

The claim seems to have originated from product labelling or advisories found on official Nestlé websites or packaging. Based on this, some sources suggest that Milo, like many other processed products, may not be recommended for certain age groups due to dietary concerns. Let’s look at the facts behind these claims.

The Nutritional Profile of Milo

‘Milo’ is marketed as a fortified drink containing vitamins, minerals, and energy-boosting ingredients. While these nutrients can benefit older children and active individuals, they might not be essential or suitable for younger children with special dietary requirements. A single serving of Milo, when prepared with milk, often contains:

• High amounts of sugar (varies by region).
• Fortified vitamins (e.g., B vitamins and calcium).
• Minimal fat and protein. Read here

What the Milo Actually States

On Nestlé’s official websites and packaging, it is often mentioned that Milo is “not suitable for children below the age of 6” in some regions. You can view the advisory here and here. 

The above details were extracted from the FAQs of Milo’s websites.

This advisory typically arises not because Milo is inherently harmful, but due to the following reasons:

1. High Sugar Content: Milo contains added sugars to enhance its taste. Young children, especially those under 6, require minimal added sugars in their diet to promote healthy growth and prevent long-term health issues such as obesity and dental problems.
2. Caffeine in Cocoa: Milo contains cocoa, which naturally includes small amounts of caffeine. Although the caffeine content is low, some nutrition guidelines suggest avoiding stimulants like caffeine in the diets of young children.
3. Balanced Diet Concerns: Children under 6 have specific nutritional needs. Introducing sugary drinks or processed foods may replace healthier, nutrient-dense options.

The Milo Sri Lanka website mentions that the sugar levels of Milo RTD  have significantly reduced in the previous few years.

Web

Apart from that, this issue is also highlighted on Milo’s social media pages.

Additionally, Milo Sri Lanka’s media team has clarified that Milo is a drink made from malt, milk, and cocoa, enriched with vitamins and minerals to support the nutritional needs of growing children as part of a balanced diet. All ingredients and nutritional information are clearly listed on the packaging.

Milo products are manufactured at the factories  in both powdered and ready-to-drink formats, adhering to the highest food safety and quality standards, including ISO certifications for Food Safety Management System and Quality Management System. Furthermore, these products comply with all relevant global and local regulations,the Milo Sri Lanka team stated.

Nestlé’s health-related initiatives. 

Nestlé’s efforts to reduce sugar, salt, and saturated fats while adding fiber-rich ingredients to their products can be read here

The Nestlé Pure Life campaign, aiming to inspire children to choose water as their preferred drink, is highlighted here.

Pediatric Dietary Recommendations

Health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), advise minimizing the intake of added sugars in children’s diets. For children under 6, natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and milk are ideal as they provide unprocessed and nutrient-dense options without unnecessary additives. Read here

Comparison With Other Similar Type Beverages 

When we compare the Milo with other similar types of beverages, Abundant Earth Organic Classic, Nesquick,, and Cadbury Drinking Chocolates have higher sugar levels than the Milo. Drinks like Horlicks have a sugar level near the Milo’s.More details can be referred here 

Similar beverage types like Horlicks also advise not to give Horlicks for infant under one year old and also dilute the core Horlicks product when giving it to kids below 11 years old.This is not because of Horlicks is unhealthy. but the vitamins and minerals provided are based on an average adult requirement; and they therefore recommend diluting the product for younger children.More details can be referred in Horlicks website from here

Not only  Horlicks, in many discussing platforms parents are  usually advised not to give similar products like Bournvita to  infants because of similar reasons we mentioned above.More details can be reached here ,here 

Conclusion

The claim is misleading but not entirely false. Nestlé does recommend avoiding Milo for children under 6, but this is due to its nutritional composition and age-specific dietary needs, not because it is inherently harmful. Therefore, calling it “very unhealthy” overstates the concern. Milo is not toxic or dangerous but is simply not the best choice for younger children, especially if consumed frequently or in large quantities. Parents are encouraged to choose natural, nutrient-dense foods for their young children while reserving products like Milo as an occasional treat for older children or adults.Not only Milo, other similar food companies like Horlicks also advices not to give those to infants due to above mentioned reasons.So,this is no an unique issue for Milo and the issue prevailing similar products like Horlicks too.