New Dangers Discovered In Infant Formula
CDC Reports Rocket Fuel Chemical Found In Formula
Apr 12, 2009
Infant formula has been associated with a variety of risks including unsafe levels of bacteria and increasing the baby's risks of a variety of long-term health problems including allergies, obesity and thyroid disease. Additional risks have just been reported to be found in 15 brands of powdered formula.
CDC Report on Infant Formula
Parent-consumers need to beware of yet another danger recently discovered in infant formula. A brand new report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that many brands of powdered infant formula were contaminated with a chemical known as perchlorate. Perchlorate is considered to be a thyroid toxin and can cause harm to the brain development of both infants and a growing fetus.
Unfortunately the researchers did not identify the specific brands of powdered formula that contained perchlorate, however they reported that the two most contaminated brands of formula comprised 87% of the total formula purchased in 2000. Some of the top selling manufacturers of infant formula include Mead Johnson (makers of Enfamil), Abbot Labs (makers of Similac) and Nestle (makers of Good Start).
When the cow's milk-based powdered formula was mixed with drinking water, the levels of perchlorate exceeded the safe limits for more than half of the infants who consumed the formula.
Drinking Water May also Contain Unsafe Amounts of Perchlorate
Another issue was raised regarding unsafe levels of perchlorate in the drinking water. Defense contractors and other large corporate polluters of the environment have been given a green light from the EPA when it comes to allowing legally safe levels of perchlorate in drinking water.
However recently the EPA released a health advisory on the issue of perchlorate in drinking water and requested that the National Academy of Sciences investigate the issue further.
Surprisingly the issue of mixing infant formula with contaminated water is not a new one. Drinking water in some parts of the world can contain microorganisms which can cause diarrhea and pose serious health risks to a baby. Even in developed countries, drinking water can contain parasites or bacteria, both of which can cause illness and even death for a baby.
Other Potential Risks from Mixing Drinking Water with Infant Formula
Drinking water has also been shown to be contaminated with nitrates from fertilizers, insecticides, chlorine by-products, as well as chemicals such as lead and arsenic. For all of these reasons, it is no surprise that parenting experts agree that breast milk is by far the safest and healthiest form of infant feeding.
Be sure to discuss the safest way to prepare powdered infant formula with your pediatrician if you cannot breastfeed or need to supplement breast milk with formula.
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