United States: Per federal health officials, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has augmented its enforcement of heavy metal testing in infant formula alongside key-nutrient assessments of these products.
Officials’ statement
The Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,
“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,” US News reported.
Official records from HHS demonstrate Kennedy attended an executive-level meeting with manufacturers producing infant formula products. The manufacturer of Similac operates under Abbott Laboratories, and Reckitt Benckiser maintains exclusive distribution rights for Enfamil.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will execute an extensive infant formula nutrient assessment while intensifying examinations for heavy metals and other dangerous substances, as CBS News recounts.
The administration labels this initiative as Operation Stork Speed.
Furthermore, as per acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Sara Brenner, “The FDA is deeply committed to ensuring that moms and other caregivers of infants and young children and other individuals who rely on infant formula for their nutritional needs have confidence that these products are safe, consistently available, and contain the nutrients essential to promote health and wellbeing during critical stages of development and life,” US News reported.
Consumer Reports investigated 41 infant formula products and discovered potentially harmful chemicals, including acrylamide, arsenic, BPA, lead, and PFAS, in nearly half of those products, which they published Tuesday.
“We look forward to seeing the details of how they intend to implement the plan, and we hope the FDA is providing adequate resources and staffing to actually follow through with these promises,” as per Brian Ronholm, who is the director of food policy at Consumer Reports.
Analysis of the examined products revealed either minimal or no presence of contaminants, US news reported.
Concerns about infant formula safety rose after the FDA discovered plant bacteria that led to two infant deaths at Abbott’s Michigan production facility in 2022.
The short-lived shutdown at this plant resulted in a nationwide shortage of infant formula products because many parents rely on this milk substitute for baby feeding.
Among the 5 million babies born in the United States each year, formula serves as an essential nutritional source since one out of every five newborns consumes it instead of breast milk.