Raw Fruitarian Diet for a Child

[Rawfruitarian]

I have a friend who feeds their child a raw fruitarian diet, they feed the child only raw fruit (a mixed of various fruits) and different type of nuts. The child is quite small for their age, but they explain this as one of them was very small as a child and that the child takes after that parent. The child was fed this diet from birth and he was breastfed until around 3 years old. Apart from being small, the child seems to be developing fine, in speech etc..
Is this considered child abuse? I have tried to talk to my friend, but they do not even want to engage in the subject, they do believe that this diet is the best and they (the adults) mainly follow it too, which a few exceptions here and there (as in they will rarely have some cooked food). Is there anything I can do or should I stay out of it?

Either way, calling NSPCC and/or reporting to SS what you need to do.

No, they are not given any supplements. They obviously believe that you can get all your nutrients from this diet, otherwise I assume they would feed him other foods...

He had to have a new set of teeth??

An influencer died eating that very diet recently. They died of malnutrition.

When they were bfed, it wasn’t as much of an issue. They were still getting SOME proteins, fats etc… from bfing.
Now? Yes it’s child abuse and they reporting asap.

That's what I was thinking.. does the kid have dentures??

@SafferUpNorth that diet is NOT being vegan (which can be tricky to handle with very yound children).
It is simply not possible to raise a healthy child on fruits and nuts (whereas you can rise a child vegan IF you know what you are doing)

I don’t understand a preschooler getting a new set of teeth - I thought they just wait for the adult ones to come in even if they take loads out.
You really do need to flag this - breastfeeding would have been hugely beneficial but since that stopped the child is at a very real risk of serious harm. Report straight to SS, maybe also let their GP know if you think that would be any help.

That’s not a good sign with the teeth. These things if genetic will still be influenced by sugary diet

Agreed. I am surprised this did not ring alarm bells with the dentist. One of their first questions would usually be around diet.....

Exactly my point! That is why I considered staying out of it, because if the dentist did not think it is something they should flag, then maybe it isn't. But I will call NSPCC and I will take it from there. Thank you all

and I know she is not doing it on purpose, she actually believes this is the best for them and their child

I would not be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt on this. You have to be wilfully ignorant to think raw fruit and nuts is a healthy diet for anyone, never mind a developing child. B-12 deficiency alone can cause irreversible neurological damage.

Sorry OP, but your friend is either painfully stupid or guilty of serious child neglect. I hope someone intervenes for the sake of this poor child.

This is severe wilful neglect and you should report it to SS immediately. If they think it's totally adequate why do they have cooked food sometimes?

The only reliable sources of B12 for vegans (let alone fruitarians) are fortified foods.

Lack of B12 in an adult can lead to nerve problems, neurological problems, incontinence and so on the vegan society describes that in an infant lack of B12 can lead to coma and death.
https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health/nutrients/vitamin-b12/what-every-vegan-should-know-about-vitamin-b12

The parents have an answer for everything- child small because parents were small, teeth ruined as genetically weak teeth. The dentist didn't know the truth but you do. The child is malnourished.

Are you going to wait until the child is incontinent, brain damaged or dead? Contact the GP/health service, contact social services. If you have any evidence - emails/text messages provide them. Provide evidence of the dentist to be contacted. Stuff being a friend - this friend is killing her kid through ignorance and a kids life is worth more than a friendship.

It might be worth being anonymous if only so you can continue to monitor the situation and aren't shut out.

I have an aunt who was a fruitarian for many years for religious reasons, but she did not impose this on her children who were brought up vegan. Even though she devoutly believed at the time, she knew a growing child needed more.

Years ago I read about a woman who allegedlycured her bulimia with a raw fruitarian diet. As far as I can see she just swapped one Eating disorder for one with a vaguely more healthy sounding title.
I have met her IRL (by complete chance) and come across her on social media, and she had a child who she has brought up with the same diet. Both look healthy but I'm not convinced it's a healthy diet for anyone let alone a pre teen.

A raw food, vegan ‘influencer’ died fairly recently from suspected starvation.
This is a form of child abuse.
Is she old enough to go to school? Please tell someone..

It is so unsafe. Please see this Instagram influencer's death https://www.google.com/amp/s/news.sky.com/story/amp/vegan-influencer-zhanna-samsonova-dies-of-starvation-after-decade-of-only-eating-raw-fruit-and-vegetables-12932232

She needs some education on what a growing child needs, such a protein, fatty acids, vitamin d, calcium. The acid could also damage teeth etc. It should be reported, its not your job to educate her. You can do a welfare referral to social services and explain she really thinks she's doing the best fir her child and you are concerned that she's mistaken. Its then up to others to ensure she has the support to make healthy decisions.

I know some people are mentioning "neglect" and "abuse" here. You are a good friend. I would steer well-clear of these terms. Everyone can be negligent if they do not realise a risk. She just needs some input/education to understand its not healthy. If after this she continues, then that would be a case of abuse. If she's a decent person, this will not happen. She likely has food issues too and may need psychological help with this. I understand a lot of health and nutrition (by no means an expert, but work in healthcare) and frankly I have has to bite my tongue on so many occasions when people are having creatine, high protein diets, vitamin infusions. People think they're doing these things for the best and often don't realise the renal damage. On occasions I have said things when I can see people are starting to suffer medically. Most don't keep the regimes up long enough for it to be detrimental.

Sadly, believing crazy things about nutrition and health in general is not rare at all. There is endless misinformation online and many people aren't well-educated in the subject or lack critical thinking skills. And people are easily led astray by the idea that "natural = healthy".

It's still a form of child neglect, but it's probably neglect caused by ignorance/strange beliefs.

Neglect. Please call NSPCC to report.

Report this to social services. That is not an appropriate diet to nourish a growing child especially now they are no longer getting milk. Children have died from parents' wierd dietary experiments.

IA baby died of malnutrition from parents following a fruitarian diet. It’s neglect and abuse - please inform someone. The dentist may not have the full picture. And this is often the case with child deaths - professionals have snippets of information and this isn’t shared with everyone. Please inform social services immediately.

Some years ago I went on a school trip with my daughters class when they were 5.

I was given four children to supervise including my daughter. We were walking from the school to a local park.

One of my wards was a small boy called Jack with pale, almost translucent skin. He was very weak and not at all lively like the other children.

We made it to the park and he semi collapsed and I was concerned he was going to faint.

The other kids were not bothered and neither was the teacher and they all said that he's always flaking out with tiredness!

The kid looked like he had run a marathon.

We opened their lunch boxes (no restrictions back them, kids could have anything) and his was mainly fruit. Just fruit and some cucumber.

I thought perhaps he was just a fussy eater but I was greatly concerned about his lethargy.

I tried talking to him and he admitted that he never walked anywhere. What about in the supermarket I asked. No, mummy leaves him in the car. (2003)

The teaching assistant, a young lady who I was friendly with as she had been an assistant for my older child, came over and wanted to have a quiet word. She expressed grave concerns about the boy and had reported it but other than the teacher having a chat with the mother, nothing further had been done.

She told me the boy's mother was a vegan and that the school had strict instructions about what he could eat.

I said I wanted to report it not just die his well-being but he was ruining the ousting for the other children as we all had to wait for him practically limping along. Not his fault but I was annoyed he was in my group and felt the school should be taking things further about the poor boys health.

He looked like death warmed up.

Later, my daughter confirmed everything the teaching assistant said. He was falling asleep in class!

I made an appointment at first with the teacher who shrugged it off and then with the head who also didn't seem too concerned but said he would speak to the mother himself.

Then the next thing I know the boy was taken out of school and I have no idea what happened to him.

Have you ever have a tooth extracted, OP?

Now, imagine being 3 years and having all your teeth extracted because your parents fed you too much fruit.

Here, watch the whole thing. Make your you really focus on the fear in the kids’ eyes.

At no point is this extremely controlling parental behaviour normal, or positive for the child. I strongly question the family dynamics as you’re suggesting the child may not even go to school. A fragile, stunted, toothless child with no friends or social skills. Yes, that’s abuse.