Can anyone tell me why Ribena is unsuitable for children under 36 months??

[littlemadam]

I've only just noticed it says that on the bottle (both regular and light), and I'm sure it didn't say anthing four years ago when DS was little....or am I just a lunkhead?

[pupuce]

too sweet ?
Personally I would not give asparthame to a young child... or anyone else for that matter!

[jellyjelly]

Because lots of parent sued them because the kids teeth fell out because they gave them it all the time and in bottles, not brushing teeth, all the things to promote lose of teeth. SMithkleen beethcam who i believe make it are just trying to avoid lawsuits.

Doesnt it say somewhere on there about dental hygiene and not deinking from bottles etc.

[jellyjelly]

Not because of the aspartamine, know its not good for them but it is in alot of kids meds.

[waterfalls]

I dont buy it anyway, far too expensive.

[pupuce]

Check out these ingredients
Water, Blackcurrant Juice from Concentrate (7%), Malic Acid, Acidity Regulators (Calcium Hydroxide, Calcium Carbonate), Vitamin C, Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Citric Acid, Stabiliser (Xanthan Gum), Flavouring, Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisulphite), Colour (Anthocyanins).

[jellyjelly]

Dont often buy fruit based drinks apart from squash for me as they are full of junk that i dont know what will do to them.

[ComeOVeneer]

The number of children I have had to treat because of bottle caries (due to ribena) is huge. I have to restrain myself when I see a child in a pushchair slugging away on it.

[southeastastra]

You lot seem really clued up on ingredients in food, where do you find out information about what is bad like aspartamine, why is it bad? Son drinks orange with aspartamine in it (just looked)!

[chipkid]

comeOVeneer, is it ok for dd to drink ribena from a beaker with a lid?

[jellyjelly]

Have just started a thread as i try to avoid eating something if i cant say it so i couldnt find that much in my cupboards. Feel free on there to ask questions and answer the ingriendents you do know.

[pupuce]

Do a quick google search! You'll quickly learn

ASPARTAME
Aspartame is the most controversial food additive in history. The most recent evidence, linking it to leukaemia and lymphoma, has added substantial fuel to the ongoing protests of doctors, scientists and consumer groups who allege that this artificial sweetener should never have been released onto the market and that allowing it to remain in the food chain is killing us by degrees.


Aspartame:
www.sweetpoison.com/
presidiotex.com/aspartame/

[ComeOVeneer]

Would prefer it if children didn't drink it at all but if it has to be done, as diluted as possible and not in a bottle, not continued acess to it either so really just at meal times.

[southeastastra]

God im too scared to google it now

[lanismum]

just checked a carton of ribena (original) and i cant see aany mention of aspartame in the ingredients?

[pupuce]

The original is with sugar it's the light that has aspartame (to replace the sugar)

[pupuce]

A small glass of ribena has 10gr of sugar (I did say small : 100ml....) and a small glass of Light Ribena has 0.5gr.

[littlemadam]

It does seen strange though, that it is the only drink I have come across which says not suitable for under threes, yet lots of other ones have sweeteners, and if it's the teeth thing don't they say the ribena light (wasn't it called toothkind) is as harmless as water. Are there any others which specifally say not for under 36 months?

[pupuce]

littlemadam - have you ever seen Ribena's market shares ? HUGE!
They have far more to loose and refer to look customer aware (I know I'm a cynic!!)

Nothing is as harmless as water... and is water harmless ?

[littlemadam]

Sorry specifically, must remember no spellchecker on here!! Probably still misspelt

[littlemadam]

Sorry specifically, must remember no spellchecker on here!! Probably still misspelt

[littlemadam]

Sorry specifically, must remember no spellchecker on here!! Probably still misspelt

[lanismum]

thanks pupuce, thought was missing it on the carton somewhere

[southeastastra]

Just read some of the aspartame/gulf way thing. That's scary, alumimium seems to be mentioned alot, I think there is a link with aluminium and some cancers, how did we get to this it's awful

[surprise]

I always buy Ribena as it's one of the few squashes you can buy that doesn't contain aspartame. For those who don't know, aspartame appears in almost every single fizzy drink and squash - not just the diet or light versions. The only lemonade that doesn't contain it seems to be one I've found in Lidl. I understood that aspartame wasn't supposed to be used in foods/drinks aimed at under 5s, but I've found it in plenty of kids' drinks and some yoghurts etc. I think the best thing to do is buy squashes etc that contain no sweetener (with lots of sugar), but just give them now and again. My ds and dd drink water, milk and no more than one glass of ribena a day (if that). I think there should be an anti-aspartame lobby as I'm sure it's only a matter of time before lots of nasty diseases are on the increaase because of it. Rant over. As you were.

[littlemadam]

I remember on the advertising, I think last year they were pushing the "as good as water" message, I do remember thinking was a string claim, all fruit juices are by their nature acidic and not tooth friendly aren't they? I do notice they now have stopped calling it Toothkind!!