Understanding Carbohydrates,
Corn Syrup + Sugars in Infant Formula
Feeding your baby comes with lots of questions, especially about the ingredients in infant formula. If you’ve had or heard concerns about corn syrup or other sugars, you’re not alone. Here’s what to know, backed by data from more than a century of studying infant nutrition.
Sugars like lactose, corn syrup, and sucrose are all types of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are a key nutrient that provides energy to help babies grow, develop, and fuel their rapidly developing brains.
Why are sugars like lactose or corn syrup in formula?
Babies need carbohydrates for energy and healthy growth. In fact, about 40% of the calories in breast milk come from lactose, a naturally occurring milk sugar. Infant formulas are carefully designed to mirror this by using safe, well-studied carbohydrates so babies get the same essential energy found in breast milk.
What’s the difference between lactose, corn syrup, and other sugars?
Lactose: This is the primary carbohydrate in breast milk, making up about 40% of its calories. It’s a natural milk sugar that provides energy and helps babies absorb calcium. Most standard formulas use lactose from cow’s milk to closely mimic the carbohydrates found in breast milk.
Corn syrup and corn syrup solids: These are made by breaking down cornstarch into simpler carbohydrates, primarily glucose, which babies can easily digest and use for energy. They’re commonly included in formulas for babies who may have trouble digesting lactose. It’s important to know they’re not the same as high fructose corn syrup found in sodas and sweet snacks.
Sucrose and maltodextrin: These are other well-studied carbohydrates used in infant formulas, often in specialized products for babies with certain digestive needs or allergies. Sucrose, which typically comes from sugar cane or sugar beets, offers a slightly different glucose-fructose balance. Maltodextrin, derived from starches like corn or rice, is a gentle carbohydrate source that helps provide needed calories without making the formula too sweet.
So how do formula makers determine which sugars to use?
It depends on the formula’s purpose and a baby’s individual needs. For most healthy babies, formulas use lactose to most closely match breast milk. But for babies who have trouble digesting lactose or have certain sensitivities, formula scientists may carefully choose other carbohydrates, like corn syrup solids or maltodextrin, to provide essential energy in a way that’s gentle on little tummies. That’s why you might see slightly different carbohydrate sources in various formulas — they’re chosen to meet babies’ diverse needs, always with a careful eye on safety and digestion.
The FDA requires formulas to meet precise nutritional standards for carbohydrates but doesn’t mandate which specific carb source must be used. That’s why companies, backed by research from institutions like the Mead Johnson Nutrition Institute, select ingredients like lactose, corn syrup solids, or maltodextrin based on how well they meet babies’ needs for energy, digestion, and growth.
You’ll often see corn syrup solids in formulas made for sensitive tummies, soy-based, or hypoallergenic needs. And while corn syrup solids provide glucose, which is quickly absorbed, formulas are balanced to support healthy growth not designed to be overly sweet.
Are these ingredients safe for my baby?
Yes. Whether a formula uses lactose, corn syrup, or another carbohydrate, it must meet strict U.S. FDA standards for safety and nutrition. At the Mead Johnson Nutrition Institute, we’ve spent over a century researching how different carbohydrates support infant growth, digestion, and overall health. That’s why formulas are carefully balanced to deliver the right energy and help babies thrive. Formulas, including their carefully chosen carbohydrate sources, undergo extensive quality checks, from ingredient sourcing to testing the final product, to ensure they meet these high standards.
What about high fructose corn syrup? Is that in infant formula?
No. Infant formulas do not use the high fructose corn syrup you might find in soft drinks or snack foods. The types of corn syrup used in formulas are processed differently to provide glucose, which babies can easily digest and use for growth.
Why not just remove all sugars?
Carbohydrates aren’t just “sugar” in the way adults often think about cutting back on treats. For babies, carbohydrates are a vital source of fuel, powering their rapid growth and active brains. In fact, during infancy, the brain uses more than half of the body’s total energy, and carbohydrates are the primary way to meet that need.
Carbohydrates also play an important role in building healthy cells and tissues, and even help support a healthy gut by feeding beneficial bacteria. That’s why breast milk naturally contains a high amount of carbohydrates, mainly as lactose.
Infant formulas are carefully designed and aim to follow the same nutritional blueprint as breast milk, so babies get the energy they need to grow, develop, and thrive.
Can babies get too much sugar or carbohydrates from formula?
No. Infant formulas are carefully formulated to provide just the right amount of carbohydrates to support a baby’s rapid growth and brain development. Unlike older children and adults, babies rely on carbohydrates for around 40% of their calories. That’s why both breast milk and formula naturally have high carbohydrate content — it’s exactly what babies need at this stage.
Bottom line
Infant formulas are carefully formulated to nourish babies when breast milk isn’t available. Whether they use lactose or other safe carbohydrates, you can feel confident knowing these ingredients are:
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Strictly regulated by the U.S. government with some of the highest standards in the world.
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Backed by decades of clinical, infant nutrition-focused research at places like the Mead Johnson Nutrition Institute.
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Selected to give babies the right balance of energy and nutrients to support healthy growth and development.