Fact check: No, goat's milk is not a substitute for baby formula, experts say

Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY
·3 min read

The claim: Goat milk is healthier than baby formula

As families nationwide struggle to find baby formula amid the ongoing shortage, some online claim there is a simple alternative to keep infants well-fed.

"My grandma couldn't nurse one of her babies. She bought a goat and gave her baby raw goat's milk," reads a screenshot of a tweet shared in a Facebook post May 5."There's a baby formula shortage? Buy a goat! It's far healthier than baby formula."

The post generated over 3,000 interactions and 1,600 shares in less than a week. Similar posts have amassed hundreds of interactions on Facebook and Twitter.

But doctors say the claim is false.

Goat milk does not have the nutrients needed for babies to thrive, experts told USA TODAY. Babies who drink goat milk in place of formula can face potential health risks.

Follow us on Facebook! Like our page to get updates throughout the day on our latest debunks

USA TODAY reached out to the social media users who shared the claim for comment.

Goat milk is not safe for babies

Goat milk, or any animal-derived milk of the sort, should never be used as an alternative to baby formula for infants below the age of 12 months, Dr. Arik Alper, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Yale New Haven Hospital, told USA TODAY.

Formulas include nutrients, minerals and additives that allow a baby to properly develop and provide a safe alternative to breastfeeding, Alper said. Goat milk lacks those necessary components, which often result in detrimental effects on the baby.

Goat milk is low in iron and vitamin B12, which helps form red blood cells, according to Dr. Ann Kellams, a pediatrician at UVA Health. Babies only fed goat milk can develop anemia, in which inadequate oxygen flows to the body's organs, according to Mayo Clinic.

Fact check: False claim that states are sending free baby formula to Similac, Enfamil callers

Goat milk is also low in vitamin C, which protects the body against infection, and vitamin D, which helps supplement bone growth, according to Kellams. Insufficient vitamins can lead to a higher risk of morbidity and even mortality in babies.

Kellams said other concerns of babies feeding on goat milk include electrolyte imbalance, in which compounds like calcium are at undesired levels in the body, kidney complications and improper organ and brain development.

Babies who feed on unpasteurized goat milk are placed in even more danger as they can be exposed to bacteria and infection, according to Alper.

Fact check: Shipping map misrepresented in posts about delays amid China COVID-19 lockdown

It is true that after one year, caregivers typically transition from infant formula or breast milk to whole milk. But Alper said cow milk is still a better choice than goat milk at that point.

"Goat's milk is higher in protein. It has excessive mineral intake, way more calcium and phosphorus than you need," Alper said. "The level of nutrition of a goat's milk is also inferior when compared to cow's milk."

Our rating: False

Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that goat milk is healthier than baby formula. Goat milk is not a safe or healthy alternative to baby formula, doctors say. It lacks the nutrition needed for babies to properly develop.

Our fact-check sources:

Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.

Our fact-check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Goat milk not a substitute for baby formula, experts say

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories