They are testing for heavy metals.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is intensifying efforts to ensure the safety of infant formula by increasing its testing for heavy metals and reviewing the essential nutrients required in these products. This move comes after concerns about contaminants in formula products, including harmful chemicals such as arsenic, lead, and BPA, which were identified in recent investigations. The FDA’s enhanced efforts are part of a broader initiative called “Operation Stork Speed.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that infant formula products are safe and meet the nutritional needs of children. He highlighted recent meetings with executives from major formula manufacturers like Abbott Laboratories and Reckitt Benckiser to discuss these safety measures. The FDA’s actions aim to reassure parents and caregivers that infant formula is safe, reliable, and nutritionally adequate for infants during their critical development stages.
The decision to increase testing follows a Consumer Reports investigation that found a range of potentially harmful chemicals in nearly half of the 41 infant formula products tested. These included substances known to pose risks, such as acrylamide, arsenic, lead, and PFAS, raising concerns about the safety of formula products. While some formulas tested showed low or no levels of these chemicals, the findings have prompted increased scrutiny of infant formula safety.
The FDA’s actions are also in response to issues at Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan plant, where bacterial contamination was linked to the deaths of two infants in 2022. The plant’s temporary closure contributed to a nationwide formula shortage, affecting many families who rely on formula to feed their babies. As approximately one in five newborns in the U.S. depend on formula, its safety and availability are critical to infant nutrition.
This increased regulatory focus aims to restore public confidence in the safety and quality of infant formula products. With more rigorous testing and a comprehensive review of formula nutrients, the FDA is seeking to address concerns and ensure that all infant formula products meet the highest safety and nutritional standards.
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