Infant formula: ‘Operation Stork Speed’

Under HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the FDA is enhancing efforts to ensure the quality, safety, nutritional adequacy, and resilience of the domestic infant formula supply. It is announcing a set of actions and initiatives such as launching the nutrient review process and increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants. The agency is also encouraging companies to develop new infant formulas and inform consumers about formula ingredients. The enhanced FDA commitments are focused on ensuring a strong supply of the sole source of nutrition for formula-fed babies and children.

The FDA uses its authority, both longstanding and newly granted, to uphold the safety, nutritional adequacy and resilience of infant formula and the infant formula supply. The FDA is embarking on a nutrient review required by law by issuing a request for information in the coming months to kickstart its first comprehensive update and review of infant formula nutrients since 1998; increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants in infant formula and other foods children consume; encouraging companies to work with the FDA on any questions related to increased transparency and clearer labelling; and collaborating with the National Institutes of Health and other scientific bodies to address gaps in research on the short- and long-term health outcomes associated with formula feeding in infancy and childhood, among other things. The agency is taking action to ensure US infant formula supply ranks best in the world.

Source: USFDA