Any link between aptamil and actimel?

[BertieBotts]

I have been wondering this for a while - especially as actimel is a probiotic drink and aptamil is promoted heavily as containing prebiotics. Is there any link? Are they produced by the same company or something?

No - different companies entirely, as I understand it.

In fact the similarity in the name is a bad thing.

I have heard of occasional instances of HCPs recommending Aptamil*, and parents giving Actimel.

• which they should not do.

Virtually all formulas have prebiotics in these days.

Thanks tiktok - eek at the idea of a parent mistakenly giving actimel to a baby. I guess that's one good reason for HCPs not to recommend particular brands.

Are prebiotics and probiotics the same thing or even remotely similar? I used to think they were the same thing but I think I was just confused by the name.

Actually have just googled a bit and Milupa is owned by Danone (who make Actimel) but only since 2007 - Actimel has definitely been around longer than this but don't know about Aptamil. So it may be a coincidence anyway.

Good googlin', Bertie

Pre- and pro- are different, but I would not know exactly in what way!

re pre and pro - think the one contains the bugs, like actimel and yakult, and the other one is the kind of foods you need to eat that keep them happy in your gut, like oats and other wholefoods, as opposed to things like refined sugars, or something to that effect.

I used to think that SMA was some sort of instant mashed potato
That was pre baby btw!

Oh dear, can you imagine SMA and bisto with your sausages??