In response, the U.S. government announced a deep-dive into ingredients used in infant formulas. This step comes as a result of increasing concerns from both parents and health officials to ensure that these products are safe and nutritious. Part of this effort, dubbed as “Operation Stork Speed,” is the first overall review of infant formula since 1998. The review aims to ensure that the formula available on the market is safe, nutritious, and meets the evolving standards of infant health.
Specifically, infant formula is intended to more closely resemble human breast milk for infants younger than 12 months of age. Usually, this high protein product comes from cow’s milk or soy. It includes some unique ingredients such as lactose, the main sugar in breastmilk. Plenty of infant formulas have seed oils in them too, making their nutritional benefits questionable, if not mystifying, to parents. Approximately three-quarters of infants in the United States consume at least one type of infant formula in their first six months of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 40% of these infants rely exclusively on formula to meet their nutritional needs.
Of course, this review comes on the heels of a real crisis that rocked 2022. Just hours after unprecedented contamination at one Abbott factory led to nationwide shortages of infant formula. This case highlighted the urgent need for increased oversight and regulation over products marketed for infant nutrition.
Current formulations of U.S. infant formula are both safe and nourishing. The extent to which potent ingredients such as added sugars and seed oils are included has been hotly contested ever since. Critics point to healthier ingredients and fewer additives in European-made formulas. Many parents have begun searching for alternatives produced overseas. These products frequently use formulas that differ from those sold in the U.S. Specialty formulas Multis have high iron concentrations, leading to worries about their safety and high effectiveness.
In fact, federal guidelines encourage women to breastfeed exclusively for at least the first six months of life. Continue breastfeeding with complementary solid foods for at least 12 months or longer. Given these recommendations, infant formula will continue to be an essential resource for mothers who are unable to breastfeed or make that choice.
Health officials are demonstrating a proactive approach by seeking that input in advance of the review process. Our experience from the phones Last year, we hosted a two-hour roundtable discussion to focus specifically on these issues—hearing from experts, and then parents, as well. The deadline for public comments on the ongoing review is September 11.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure in advocating for food safety, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them.”
Dr. Mary E. Abrams, a pediatric nutrition expert, pointed out the arbitrary nature of which ingredients made the cut in some formulas and not others. “These have been added to some formulas, but not to other formulas, so we want to take a look,” she noted. Abrams suggested that it may be time for regulatory bodies to reassess their standards: “Maybe it’s time for them to relook at their regulations and consider potential international harmonization.”
“Though these comparisons are often made between the U.S. and European formulas, Abrams said we should be careful about framing these differences as signs of superiority. The differences between the U.S. and Europe should not be considered as ‘higher’ or ‘better’ or ‘greater’ in one vs. the other,” she stated.
We hope the upcoming review will lead U.S. regulations to reflect modern scientific knowledge from here and around the world. Abrams remarked, “There’s been a lot of science and we want the FDA rules to align with the most recent science from around the world.” She added that thoroughness is paramount in this process: “No shortcuts are possible and no one review, white paper or even committee report will suffice to do it right.”
