FDA warns people against using goat’s milk as substitute for breastfeeding  

January 20, 2017

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Friday warned the public against patronizing goat’s milk as an adequate substitute to breastfeeding as claimed by a Facebook group “Dairy Goat Philippines”.

Based on FDA Advisory No. 2017-001, there is no truth to the claims of the Dairy Goat Philippines goat’s milk is a good alternate or substitute for breast milk.

“The public is warned that claims on the use of Goat’s Milk, through the Facebook group Dairy Goat Philippines, as an alternate or substitute for breast milk undermines the importance and relevance of breastfeeding as the source of adequate and safe nutrition for infants,” said the FDA.

“Therefore, the public is discouraged to patronize the promotional schemes of Dairy Goat Philippines in promoting goat’s milk in place of breast milk and breastfeeding,” it furthered.

The FDA stressed breast milk remains to be the best for babies up to two years of age and beyond, and that there is no substitute for breast milk.

The FDA pointed how making such claims are in violation of Executive Order No. 51 or the “Milk Code of the Philippines”. “This is in direct violation of Executive Order No. 51,” said the FDA.

According to the Milk Code, any person who violates its provisions could be imprisoned from two months to one year and/or a fine of P1,000 to P30,000.

In its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/GoatMilkPH/posts/?ref=page_internal), the Dairy Goat Philippines claimed that goat milk has “more bio-active components essential for infant development”. DMS