RFK Jr. orders review of baby formula: What to know
Pres. Trump, RFK Jr. make 'MAHA' announcement
President Trump and 'Make American Healthy Again' commission leaders discuss the first health report.
The Food and Drug Administration is taking a look at the nutrients and other ingredients in infant formula as part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
Formula has been widely used in the U.S. for some 60 years. The broader scientific community has been calling for a reevaluation of infant formula for years and is "fully supportive of this idea of a comprehensive look," nutrition experts say.
‘Operation Stork Speed’
The infant formula effort, dubbed "Operation Stork Speed," is the first deep look at the ingredients since 1998.
What they're saying:
"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," Kennedy said.
Current formula products in the U.S. continue to be safe and nourishing, he said.
FILE - Baby formula for sale behind a security locked shelve at a CVS Pharmacy store in New York, US, on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (Photographer: Nora Savosnick/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"But there’s been a lot of science and we want the FDA rules to align with the most recent science from around the world," he said.
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Big picture view:
The FDA’s review will include increased testing for heavy metals and other contaminants as well as a review of nutrients, the agencies said.
The FDA is asking for new scientific data and information about whether required ingredients in infant formula should be added, removed or changed. Scientists say a review is long overdue regarding the most recent data on the composition of human milk and how babies digest and absorb nutrients in breastmilk and formula.
In addition, they want the FDA to consider how U.S. formulas compare with those made elsewhere.
More international alignment might have eased the U.S. infant formula crisis in 2022, when contamination shut down an Abbott factory, leading to monthslong shortages for American parents.
By the numbers:
About three-quarters of U.S. infants consume formula during the first six months of life, with about 40% receiving it as their only source of nutrition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
What is infant formula made of?
The backstory:
Infant formula is a manufactured product, usually made from cow’s milk or soy, that is intended to mimic human breast milk for kids up age 12 months. It may be the sole source of nutrition or supplement breastfeeding.
FDA regulations require that infant formulas contain 30 specific nutrients, with minimum levels for all and maximum levels for 10 of them.
The ingredients vary, but all formulas must have a balance of calories from protein, carbohydrates and fat that mirrors what's found in human milk.
In recent years, some parents have sought out infant formula made in Europe with the belief that products made overseas are healthier options, experts said.
Formula regulations in the U.S. and Europe, including requirements for nutrients and testing, differ somewhat, but are generally similar.
FDA to increase testing on baby formula
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will increase its testing on baby formulas for contaminates including heavy metals, the agency announced this week. In a statement the FDA said they along with the HHS is committed to increasing testing for the presence of substances like arsenic, lead and mercury. The plan is called "Operation Stork Speed." Joining LiveNOW to help break it all down is Dr. Joel "Gator" Warsh, Board-Certified Pediatrician.
Still, iron, for instance, is included at higher levels in U.S. formulas than in those in Europe — and Abrams suggested that U.S. officials may consider lowering iron targets.
Other components have been added to formula in recent years. They include docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid, and human milk oligosaccharides, complex sugars that are found breast milk but not in cow's milk. Although they may be beneficial, they are not required.
Many parents have raised concerns over formula ingredients such as added sugars and seed oils, which are also being targeted by Kennedy as hazards in the wider food supply.
Recent research suggests that added sugars such as glucose and corn syrup solids in infant formula may be linked to weight gain in children. Most experts agree that lactose, the primary type of sugar found in breast milk, is preferred.
Infant formulas in the U.S. do contain seed oils. But that’s because there are a finite number of vegetable oils that provide the essential saturated and unsaturated fats that babies require. Formulas need to provide the variety of fatty acids seen in breast milk.
Breastfeeding vs. formula
Dig deeper:
Federal guidelines recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life and that parents continue breastfeeding for the first year or more while adding new foods to the child’s diet.
Parents use formula when a mother cannot or chooses not to breastfeed for a wide range of reasons, including medical conditions, work conflicts, to allow other family members to help with feedings and other situations.
How long will ‘Operation Stork Speed’ take?
What's next:
Experts say the FDA’s infant formula review should take "at least a year," requiring broad input from multiple government agencies, formula manufacturers and consumers.
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.