Nutrament

Nutrament is a nutritional vitamin drink currently supplied by Nestlé Health Science. It was originally distributed by Mead Johnson & Company, beginning in 1960. Current flavors on the market are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, coconut, banana, cappucino, dulce de leche, mango and eggnog. The product is supplied as individual 12 fluid ounce servings in pull-top cans. According to the product's website, Nutrament currently is available only in regional areas of the United States, mostly in New York and Florida, although internet stores also have it available.^[1]

In official records, it is described as "Nutritionally Complete Food Consisting Principally of Milk Solids, Maltose-Dextrins, Soy Flour, Sucrose". The original purpose of Nutrament was as a recovery drink for athletes.^[2] Late in the 1960s, a powdered form was offered for mixing with milk, but that brand registration was not renewed in 1988 and officially expired in 1992, still owned by Mead Johnson.

The current formulation is made of skim milk, the sweeteners sugar and corn syrup, various vegetable oils, flavorings, and vitamins and minerals.^[3] Because of its high milk content, lactose intolerant people would need to take an enzyme supplement to digest the drink properly, or avoid it altogether. For other persons, the product is considered easy to digest and is a good protein source. It has been used as a meal substitute in dieting, because of its calorie portion control. Because of its low fiber content, it is useful for low-residue diets.^[4]

Mead Johnson also marketed a liquid dietary supplement under the same brand name in 1985, and registered the brand "Nutrament The Energy and Fitness Drink" in 1996. Nutrament was purchased from Mead Johnson & Company on February 13, 2004, and has been owned by Nestlé Health Science since January 12, 2007.

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