Claims That Say Plant-Based Milk Is Insufficient For Children Are 'Bogus,' Says Corby Kummer

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has given their support to the dairy industry and recommended that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) not allow plant-based milks to use the label 'milk' on their products.

Food writer Corby Kummer joined Boston Public Radio on Tuesday to explain the money-based bias in studies that say children are better off drinking cow's milk.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics gets lots of money from the dairy board," Kummer said. "So they pay attention to dairy board sponsored studies that say pediatricians are concerned that children might be lacking nutrients. It's a bogus study because New Food Economy called up a bunch of pediatricians who said they're not worried. It's just industry that wants to protect the designation of milk and doesn't want to lose its market."

While cow's milk is a nutrient-packed product, it's incorrect to say that switching to plant-based milks will harm children, Kummer added.

"The nutrient density of cow's milk is incredibly high and it's great for children, but it doesn't mean that if parents decide they want their kids to have almond milk or soy milk that its going to destroy their childrens' health," he said. "Most pediatricians said they've never seen it be a problem."

Kummer is a *senior editor at The Atlantic*, an award-winning food writer, and a senior lecturer at the Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition and Policy.