The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have set a new standard for the manufacturing of baby formula.
The FDA announced on Juno 9 2014 that it would finalize a rule to set new standards for the manufacturing of baby formula, an FDA news release reported.
The new standards will require that: good manufacturing practices are maintained, including testing for "harmful pathogens"; that manufacturers adequately demonstrate that formulas encourage "normal physical growth"; and that formulas be tested for nutrient content in its final stage of production right before it hits shelves, the news release reported.
"FDA sets high quality standards for the safety and nutritional quality of infant formulas during this critical time of development," Stephen Ostroff, M.D., FDA's acting chief scientist, said in the news release.
The rules apply only to baby formulas intended to be given to babies without any special dietary needs.
The FDA currently performs annual inspections of facilities that manufacture infant formula, they also take samples of the products.
"While breastfeeding is strongly recommended and many mothers hope to breastfeed their infants, most infants in the U.S. rely on infant formula for some portion of their nutrition. An estimated 1 million infants in the United States are fed formula from birth, and by the time they are three months old, about 2.7 million rely on formula for at least part of their nutrition," the news release reported.
The FDA has specific nutrient specifications to meet the nutritional needs of infants of all ages. Formula manufacturers tend to set their nutrient levels to above the FDA's minimum requirements.
Current U.S. formulas are either "'iron-fortified'-with approximately 12 milligrams of iron per liter-or 'low iron'-with approximately [two] milligrams of iron per liter. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that formula-fed infants receive an iron-fortified formula as a way of reducing the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia," the news release reported.
