Baby-bottle blues

Marion Nestle tackles infant formula

By Culinate staff

June 11, 2010

On her Food Politics blog, nutrition expert Marion Nestle recently lambasted the infant-formula industry for adding supposedly healthy extras to infant formula, then upping prices. Most infant formulas nowadays, for example, contain added DHA:

The FDA approved the use of DHA in infant formulas on the grounds that it is safe, but did not require the companies to establish that DHA makes any difference to infant health after the first year. Because of its marketing advantage, virtually all infant formulas now contain DHA. Surprise! They also cost more.

Biggest losers in the cost wars? Families on the federal WIC program, who might not be able to get infant formula if it costs the government too much to buy it.

Fortunately, the controversial chocolate-flavored formula that recently hit the market has now been pulled from store shelves, due to outrage about the product’s potential to encourage obesity. As The Atlantic noted,

What toddlers need are . . . plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy, presented in a pleasant environment. They do not need an expensive formula supplement drink fortified with 25 nutrients, antioxidants, and prebiotics . . . [as well as] 19 grams of sugar (4.5 teaspoons) per seven-ounce serving.