Infant Formula Manufacturers Again under Ethical Cloud

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"Marketing Gimmick" Linked to Serious Illnesses

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA: A report released today by The Cornucopia
Institute presents research indicating that new additives placed in
infant formula are seriously endangering the health of some formula-fed
newborns and toddlers.

The report, Replacing Mother-Imitating Human Breast Milk in the
Laboratory, details research questioning the alleged benefits of adding
"novel" omega-3 fatty acids, produced in laboratories and extracted from
algae and fungus, into infant formulas. The additives raised health and
safety red flags during preapproval testing while aggressive marketing
campaigns by some infant formula manufacturers appear to have encouraged
new mothers to give up nursing for the questionable infant products.

"When I worked in the hospital's neonatal ward, the nurses all called it
'the diarrhea formula'," says Sam Heather Doak, LPN, IBCLC, from
Marietta , Ohio. "We've seen infants, tiny little humans, with diarrhea
that just wouldn't stop after being given this formula." For infants,
virulent and long-term diarrhea is considered a serious and
life-threatening medical episode.

The infant formula referenced by Doak was supplemented with Martek
Biosciences Corporation's laboratory-produced oils containing DHA and
ARA. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and ARA, an omega-6 fatty acid, are
naturally found in human breast milk and are considered important
nutrients for rapidly developing infants.

But laboratory-produced DHASCO and ARASCO (Martek's names for their
proprietary oils) are materially different from the fats found in a
mother's breast milk. Martek's products are extracted from fermented
algae and fungus, with the use of the synthetic solvent hexane, a
neurotoxic chemical. They contain only 40 to 50% DHA and ARA, with the
balance being sunflower oil, diglycerides, and nonsaponifiable
materials. Some of these components are not found in human breast milk,
and the triglycerides carrying DHA and ARA are not identical to those
found in human breast milk-and have never been part of the diet for
human infants.

For the full report, use this link
http://cornucopia.org/DHA/DHA_FullReport.pdf

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Is that the same "wonder ingredient" that resulted in a certain brand of formula being removed from the shelves last year because it didn't have approval?

Wasn't the formula company calling it a "technicality" and the ingredient was safe even though they had to remove it from the shelves because it hadn't been tested properly?


I feel terribly for those misled by the manufacturers and who believed this was best for their child due to some fancy gold writing on the tin.

I've often been of the opinion that this latest trend of adding things like the omega 3s, DHA's and even probiotics is completely unnecessary and purely to sell their product over another without those in it. Even the use of the word "Gold' is misleading as it implies that it is the best because it's 'gold'. All of these gold formulas seemed to appear on the shelves after it became the 'trend' for adults to start taking these same supplements in an adult form or added to food products.

So what brand of formulae is using these compounds?

Yes i would be interested to know what brand of formula this is referring to also?

Its really quite horrible when this sort of thing goes on as some people dont have a choice and have to opt for FF and think that this stuff is really good for our bubs. I read this and wish i was still b/f (ds self weaned very early). I too feel for the mums who are led to believe its better than BM.

But as always, this wasn't posted to attack FF'ers and I hope the conversation stays on track because I think its valuable information even for those who FF so they are informed about what they are buying and whats in it - if it means changing to a different/safer brand then it's helped someone. I wouldn't refrain posting an article on the dangers of smoking so I don't offend those who can't help but to smoke... it's just that people have emotions surrounding this and we are responsible for feeling our own emotions. No-one makes anyone feel anything, its all in the interpretation and own experiences and what that triggers. Some people say xxx makes me feel guilty - well why do you feel guilty if you aren't guilty? Something we can only answer for ourselves and find better ways to deal with our emotions. A great article here about this issue in particular, with the whole BM and FF stuff: Artificial Feeding: Nothing To Do With Breastfeeding

Yeah, I've always been skeptical of all these additives. The Omega 3 one stood out most of all. You'd find it in everything.. I even saw an ad for frozen chips with added omega-3! I don't buy any products because they have certain additives.. I buy normal cows milk where the ingredients essentially say 'cows milk', same with bread, I don't get the ones that have extra fibre or added calcium.

Same would go for formula, just because it has in big writing that it has added Omega-3 for brain development.. pfft.

I'm sorry to read tho that these additives are causing problems for some bubs. Poor little tummies :(

LOL Liz, I only buy tip top Omega 3 bread because it freezes so well - I only go to town once a week for shopping and its the best one for freexing.

tears of joy, it's articles like this that help us decide which is going to be the right one for our babies if we need it. Over the years I have been using formula, it has changed so much - seriously, when I first started using it, there were probably only half the varieties that are available now and not one of them had all this added stuff - if anything the only difference were the stage 1 and 2 (with added iron). And have you noticed that the 'more' is in them, the more expensive they get? The manufacturers are making money off us wanting to give our baby the best we can give them.

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But as always, this wasn't posted to attack FF'ers and I hope the conversation stays on track because I think its valuable information even for those who FF so they are informed about what they are buying and whats in it - if it means changing to a different/safer brand then it's helped someone.

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Kelly- I totally agree with this:) Sorry if my post didn't come across the right way. I would definately like to know if there was a problem with the formula i had chosen for DS so that i could change it to something better for him. So far DS has no problems with his one, thank god, But im sorry for the babies who are/have been affected by the additives in some formula's. I had a read of that article too, it was great.

Sherie- The "gold" written on the tins is misleading, DS formula is a gold one and i chose it for that reason, i thought it would be a bit better than the normal one, i still have a lot to learn lol. Yep i have noticed the price goes up with the ingredients!

Oh and i buy the tip top omega-3 for its quality after freezing too!!

Gosh girls - i hope that bread doesn't have anti-freeze in it LOL ;)

Could well do Liz - something makes it thaw so that it's like fresh bread again.

i didnt buy those "gold" formulas for this reason!! its only a new product and what do we really know and the affects later on as it has not been in formulas that long!! thats why i went with the plain formula S-26!!

I think it is just so sad that Companies can just play around with something so important. I don't see what is wrong with the formula's that are already available. There are soooo many to choose from so therefore you have a higher chance of finding one which best suits your childs needs. And that's basically what it comes down to, It's a case of finding one that suits, whether it be gold tin or not.

I went through approx 6-8 formulas trying the more expensive thinking it was better for my baby in the end he's on the cheapest one in plain label.

You know it actually makes me mad that these companies are holding our child's life in their hands, we rely on them for so much. And they do things like this :(

That's my opinion, sorry if I offend I didn't intend so.

i think the hardest part here is that we're NOT scientists - people have to rely on the products that are available, and we have to rely on the manufacturers and scientists to produce something that is safe for those babies/infants that are being FF. This product is NOT the one to be messing with to try to increase their bottom dollar - people are influenced to buy what they believe is the best for their child - and i find it appalling that the manufacture of formula is becoming an experimental field just so that they can say that one has something more than another and increase their profit margin - it's appalling bahaviour! where are the ethicists on this one? why don't they stand up and try to protect those who're unable to protect themselves?