FDA Updating 1998 Formula Guidelines
The FDA is reviewing their regulatory guidelines for infant formula for the first time since 1998. The FDA has issued a public request for comment (I have included link here in case you have knowledge or opinions you would like to share! They are seeking comments from parents, doctors, anyone who is interested) that is open through September: Here is link if you have public comment — https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/05/14/2025-08419/infant-formula-nutrient-requirements-request-for-information
Breast milk is gold standard nutrition for babies, but we know exclusive breastfeeding is not possible for many families. Formula is a critical source of nutrition for most babies in the United States. By 6 months 75% of babies in the US are receiving at least some formula, and by 12 months that number is up to 81% (my own kids included in that - as I discuss in the video, I was working long shifts and never pumped quite enough milk to get my kids all the way through on the days I was working – which were a lot of days because I was in residency 🙂. I am very grateful to have access to healthy safe formula for infants because supplementing with formula allowed me to do my job and be a mom!). So we have to talk about infant formula when we talk about infant health, and I think it is very exciting that we can potentially update these standards to ensure that all infants are getting the very best nutrition no matter how they are fed.
I just watched the expert panel meeting of the FDA last month on infant formula and was completely impressed by the thirteen experts (many of them pediatricians and neonatologists and PhD nutrition scientists who have done extensive research in this area!) who encouraged the FDA to consider updating the US formula guidelines to align with the World Health Organization European Union Canada and Australia; encouraged regulating high fructose corn syrup and other types of sugars that are NOT like the lactose in breast milk; who recommended improved labeling for formulas to be more straightforward for families; making sure formula has sufficient fatty acid for brain development. I am looking forward to seeing what kinds of improvements we can make to these regulatory guidelines to ensure the very best for babies no matter how they are getting their nutrition.
Note:
All infant formula sold in the United States will provide complete and adequate nutrition for a baby to grow and thrive. Prior to marketing in the US, makers of infant formula must notify the Food and Drug Administration and meet strict criteria for safety, nutritional adequacy, packaging and labeling. The FDA does not approve formulas, but does review these domains and can recall or halt production of formulas that do not meet their criteria. So any formula you buy on the shelf of any grocery store is going to meet your baby’s nutritional needs and be safe for your baby.
Note: I cannot discuss infant nutrition without acknowledging my heartbreak that many infants, here and abroad, do not have access to adequate nutrition. I know Gaza is not the only place this is happening, but it is what is weighing heaviest on my mind, so I have been making small daily donations (trying to take my coffee at home and give just a little more than my coffee allowance – do not want to give the impression that I am more generous than I have been) to PCRF through @msrachelforlittles and also @worldcentralkitchen if anyone is looking for organizations to support (or knows of other great organizations doing relief work in Gaza and can send other recommendations my way.)
