Malted milk or chocolate milk has replaced our daily cup of tea or coffee. We find schoolchildren skipping their meals with a packet of milk bought from a nearby shop. Advertisements enticing the youth are telecast on TV throughout the day, portraying this item as an essential nutrition supplement and energy booster. Yet, experts remain skeptical as to the nutritional benefits of such drinks and many claim that they are unhealthy and at times harmful for children and adults. 

The Daily Mirror recently reported an unfortunate incident from Chilaw where a one-year and 
eight-month-old child died in June after allegedly consuming a packet of chocolate malted drink. Emasha was the only child of M. Nadeeka Thushari (33) and Gallakadu Jayasinghelage Krishantha. 
Her father had to say the following about his daughter, “Emasha drank half the packet of chocolate milk and then her face became pale and she refused to drink anymore. She then began to vomit and became very weak. We were confused, and felt really helpless.”
However, she was immediately rushed to the Mundalama Base Hospital. Her condition began to worsen and she was subsequently taken to the Chilaw District Hospital and then transferred to the ICU of the Kurunegala Teaching hospital. Post to her death, JMO of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital Ajith Jayasena gave an open verdict after conducting the postmortem on the body. 
Specimens of the body were sent to the Government Analyst for further examination. While the cause of her death has not been ascertained by the relevant authorities as yet, her parents allege that the death occurred due to the consumption of the chocolate malted drink. At the same time, there has been a sudden massive propaganda for promoting this particular brand in the Chilaw Area. This incident raises concern as to the guidelines related to consuming such products. 

Response from a malted milk company to the allegations 
A leading malted milk company that defended the claim of advertising being unethical said, “We have a strict self-regulated policy on responsible marketing to children since 2008, to ensure responsible marketing of our food and beverages.” 
“Our aim is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle through many different activities. This includes supporting school sports events in partnership with the relevant local authorities, to encourage children to be more physically active and live healthier,” the spokesman said. 

Liquid milk packets unsuitable for children: health experts  

“Parents violate infant and children feeding guidelines”
- Visakha Tillekaratne 

“We do not recommend chocolate milk to be a nutritious drink  for a child. It is preferable for children to have water, fresh milk or juices with a low sugar concentration,” Nutrition Society President Visakha Tillekaratne said. 
Referring to the incident where an infant died after allegedly consuming a packet of liquid milk she said, “An infant of this age is not supposed to consume chocolate drink or any other drink anyway. A child is supposed to have only breast milk and food until he/she turns two and breast milk alone until six months. The parents have violated the infant and young children feeding guidelines.” 
“We do not recommend any sort of energy drinks because they are merely short-term measures which can be very harmful. We have to change our behaviour to choose the right kind of drink. The problem here is the frequency of drinking malted drinks. 

"Our government has now reduced the global guideline from a recommended six tea spoons a day to three tea spoons. Without pinpointing a product or a type of food, consumers should make an educated choice of food and drinks"

We need to see the content of sugar - whether it contains sugar, is it sugar-free, or less sugar - and how often we consume it. Anything consumed with high sugar on a daily basis is harmful. 
Our government has now reduced the global guideline from a recommended six tea spoons a day to three tea spoons. Without pinpointing a product or a type of food, consumers should make an educated choice of food and drinks,” she added. 

“Chocolate malted drinks are main contributors for diabetes and obesity” 
- Dr. Waruna Gunathilaka

Director, National Poisons Information Centre, National Hospital, Dr. Waruna Gunathilaka, spoke on the unfavourable effects of chocolate malted drinks found in the market.
“I have not heard of this case where an infant died due to the consumption of a chocolate malted drink. However, it should be strictly noted that chocolate malted drinks and other high-energy malted drinks are not suitable for consumption for those under 12 years of age. Most chocolate malted drinks are high in energy, sugar and calories, and are  main contributors for obesity and diabetes. Though older children can drink such malted beverages, it should be consumed with caution as it has many adverse effects to one’s health. The drink is not advisable for consumption.” 
“In most cases, consumers are unaware of the ingredients contained in their chocolate drink. Most of the ingredients are modified and chemically-processed, hence highly unhealthy. However, it is difficult for the consumer to gauge the ill-effects of them. The information between the consumer and food industry in such circumstances is unfortunately asymmetric,” he added.

"I have not heard of this case where an infant died due to the consumption of a chocolate malted drink. However, it should be strictly noted that chocolate malted drinks and other high-energy malted drinks are not suitable for consumption for those under 12 years of age"

Publicity campaigns 

“These chocolate malted drink companies can be seen as the prime sponsor for many of the school sports events. There are even matches named after the brand. They should not advocate the drink through such events,” Dr. Gunathilaka said. 
“Chocolate malted drinks are not family drinks, although many families start their day with them. However, the media promote such drinks especially during commercials between cartoons, targeting the younger audience. Sri Lanka should have some form of regulation; they should consider the adverse effects of such commercials. In the Western world, such commercials are scarce. In Canada, there are stringent restrictions on commercials that coerce children in buying the products promoted by commercials,” he added. 

"These firms strive to demonstrate that malted drinks are an essential component of nutrition, but that is completely false. They advertise in playgrounds. Their logo is found on the certificates given to winners. This type of unethical advertising should be discouraged"

“These firms strive to demonstrate that malted drinks are an essential component of nutrition, but that is completely false. They advertise in playgrounds. Their logo is found on the certificates given to winners. This type of unethical advertising should be discouraged. These companies target schoolchildren and mislead them. We need to educate them. We discourage people from consuming malted drinks also because they contain high concentrations of sugar,” Dr. Herath said. 

“Consuming malted drinks prior to sports events is detrimental”
- Dr. Nalinda Herath

“At times, consuming these types of drinks prior to sports activities is harmful because once consumed, the body starts secreting insulin. There will then be extra secretion and while one is engaged in the sports activity, there will be a deficit of sugar and one might end up being hypoglycemic. We need to encourage the consumption of a complex carbohydrates diet before a sports event,” GMOA General Secretary Dr. Nalinda Herath said. 
Referring to the same incident where a child died after allegedly consuming malted drinks, he said, “You don’t die by drinking malted drinks if it isn’t toxic. But there are other long-term effects and immediate effects such as hypoglycemia.” 
When asked about the ill-effects of cocoa, he said there were long-term effects such as memory loss, constipation and gastritis. 

"You don’t die by drinking malted drinks if it isn’t toxic. But there are other long-term effects and immediate effects such as hypoglycemia"

"However, she was immediately rushed to the Mundalama Base Hospital. Her condition began to worsen and she was subsequently taken to the Chilaw District Hospital and then transferred to the ICU of the Kurunegala Teaching hospital"