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Mead Johnson Nutrition Infant formula
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Baby milks

Mead Johnson Nutrition Infant formula

12.5 oz (354 g)

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • Contains palm oil
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Why it scores 47

Mead Johnson Nutrition Infant formula scores 47 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, emulsifier, industrial protein and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. Emerging

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better infant formula

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Infant formula

START100

Ingredients

  • Lactose
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Vegetable oil (unspecified)
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Palm oil
    Strong About half saturated fat; WHO recommends keeping saturated fat to 10% of energy or less. [8][9][10]
  • Sunflower oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Whey protein concentrate / isolate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Inulin (chicory root fiber)
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Soluble corn fiber (resistant dextrin)
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
  • Calcium phosphate
    Strong EFSA (2019) set a group ADI for phosphates of 40 mg/kg body weight (as phosphorus) and noted that infants, toddlers and children may exceed it. [12]
  • Soy lecithin
    Info An additive class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [11]
subtotal−31

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [11]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, emulsifier, industrial protein and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [11]
subtotal−22.5
TOTAL 47Okay

100 − 53.5 = 46.5 → 47

Can’t score above 79. Contains lactose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00300871365421 · 2026-06-27

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Saturated fat0 g
Sugars0 g
Added sugars0 g

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

nonfat milk, lactose, vegetable oil (palm olein, coconut, soy, and high oleic sunflower oils), whey protein concentrate, and less than 2%: galactooligosaccharides*, polydextrose*, death - erella alpina oilt, schizochytrium sp, oil#, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, potassium citrate, eres 5 fl az) ste 5,3 11,3 133 780 the w**** ferrous sulfate, potassium chloride, magnesium oxide, sodium chloride, zinc sulfate, cupric sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide, sodium mg ******* u 300 selenite, soy lecithin, choline chloride, ascorbic i 60 acid, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, vitamin a 2 palmitate, vitamin b12, vitamin d3, riboflavin, thiamin 9 hydrochloride, vitamin b6 hydrochloride, folic ******** u, mcg , 80 acid, vitamin k1, biotin, inositol, vitamin e acetate, mag mog , 140 taurine, l-carnitine, mag 60 mead johnson company, llc mag ,,03 0,3 your ays evansville, in 47721 u,s,a, are account with infants w it apa mcg , 1000 mag,16 - 16 meadlohnson' not tm wash 11 wih sa 2,

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Tree nuts, Soy

  • Not vegan
  • Not palm-oil-free

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest baby milks in the US

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”

    doi.org

  5. Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

    BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org

  7. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. Saturated fatty acid and trans-fatty acid intake for adults and children: WHO guideline

    World Health Organization · Jul 17, 2023 · Agency assessment

    “WHO recommends that adults and children reduce saturated fatty acid intake to 10% of total energy intake (strong recommendation).”

    who.int

  9. Process contaminants in vegetable oils and foods

    European Food Safety Authority · May 3, 2016 · Agency assessment

    “The highest levels of GE, as well as 3-MCPD and 2-MCPD (including esters) were found in palm oils and palm fats, followed by other oils and fats.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  10. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 25, 2023 · Law

    “Glycidyl fatty acid esters, expressed as glycidol”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  11. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  12. EFSA issues new advice on phosphates

    European Food Safety Authority · Jun 12, 2019 · Agency assessment

    “We estimated that dietary exposure to phosphates may exceed the new ADI for infants, toddlers and children with average consumption of phosphates in their diet.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  13. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  14. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org