Does the FDA regulate formula?

Question

I know the FDA (food and drug administration) regulates alot of things, for quality purposes. I was wondering if formula production is regulated?

And does anyone happen to know what's in formula?

Answer 1

Yes. The safety and nutritional quality of infant formulas are ensured by requiring that manufacturers follow specific procedures in manufacturing infant formulas. In fact, there is a law -- known as the Infant Formula Act -- which gives FDA special authority to create and enforce standards for commercial infant formulas. Manufactures must analyze each batch of formula to check nutrient levels and make safety checks. They must then test samples to make sure the product remains in good condition while it is on the market shelf. Infant formulas must also have codes on their containers to identify each batch and manufacturers must keep very detailed records of production and analysis.

Answer 2

Yes, the FDA regulates formula.

"Once an infant formula product is formulated, current laws require that the manufacturer must provide FDA assurance of the nutritional quality of that particular formulation before marketing the infant formula. FDA has provisions that include requirements for certain labeling, nutrient content, manufacturers quality control procedures (to assure the nutrient content of infant formulas), as well as company records and reports. FDA is also working to finalize a proposed rule for good manufacturing practice, quality control procedures, quality factors, notification requirements, and reports and records, for the production of infant formulas."

All infant formulas contain a minimum and maximum amount of nutrients. Depending on the brand and type you are buying, the formulas may be iron-fortified, soy based, or elemental with hydrolysate proteins,.Formulas may also be available as powder (just add water), ready-to-drink, and concentrates.

Answer 3

Yes, the FDA does regulate infant formula. You can take a look at the back of a can of formula to find out what's in it. The ingredients are pretty much the same in all brands.

Answer 4

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/infant-formula.html

USFDA -
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/%7Edms/inf-toc.html

Per the FDA, "The law does not require that FDA approve infant formulas but instead requires companies to provide certain information to FDA before they market new infant formulas. Manufacturers must provide assurances that they are following good manufacturing practices and quality control procedures and that the formula will allow infants to thrive. If such assurances are not provided, FDA will object to the manufacturer's marketing of the formula; however, the manufacturer may market the new infant formula over FDA's objection."

Answer 5

^^ Haha Jill, we copied and pasted the same web site!!

there is a law -- known as the Infant Formula Act -- which gives FDA special authority to create and enforce standards for commercial infant formulas.

Whats in formula? 1st know that formula is a SUBSTITUTE, a last resort to nurishing a baby. However, if you would like to know the specific ingredients look here: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3788/4583/19034.aspx

Answer 6

Commercially prepared formulas are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

The nutritional adequacy of commercially prepared formula is also ensured by the agency's nutrient requirements and its safety by strict quality control procedures that require manufacturers to analyze each batch of formula for required nutrients, to test samples for stability during the shelf life of the product, to code containers to identify the batch, and to make all records available to FDA investigators.

The composition of infant formula is similar to breast milk, but it isn't a perfect match, because the exact chemical makeup of breast milk is still unknown.

Human milk is very complex, and scientists are still trying to unravel and understand what makes it such a good source of nutrition for rapidly growing and developing infants.

More than half the calories in breast milk come from fat, and the same is true for today's infant formulas. This may be alarming to many American adults watching their intake of fat and cholesterol, especially when sources of saturated fats, such as coconut oil, are used in formulas. (In adults, high intakes of saturated fats tend to increase blood cholesterol levels more than other fats or oils.) But the low-fat diet recommended for adults doesn't apply to infants.

The reason is that infants have a high energy requirement, and they have a restricted volume of food that they can ingest. The way to meet these energy requirements in a restricted amount of food is to have a high amount of fat.

While greater knowledge about human milk has helped scientists improve infant formula, it has become "increasingly apparent that infant formula can never duplicate human milk," wrote John D. Benson, Ph.D, and Mark L. Masor, Ph.D., in the March 1994 issue of Endocrine Regulations. "Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula."

Benson and Masor, both of whom are pediatric nutrition researchers at infant formula manufacturer Abbott Laboratories, believe creating formula that duplicates human milk is impossible. "A better goal is to match the performance of the breastfed infant," they wrote. Performance is measured by the infant's growth, absorption of nutrients, gastrointestinal tolerance, and reactions in blood.

Formula Choices

If the mother cannot or chooses not to breast-feed, normal, full-term infants should get a conventional cow's-milk-based formula
The infant formulas currently available in the United States are either "iron-fortified"--with approximately 12 milligrams of iron per liter--or "low iron"--with approximately 2 milligrams of iron per liter.

enfamil lipil with iron

INGREDIENTS: LACTOSE, NONFAT MILK, PALM OIL OR PALM OLEIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, HIGH OLEIC (SAFFLOWER OR SUNFLOWER) OIL, COCONUT OIL, SOYBEAN OIL, LESS THAN 2%: MORTIERELLA ALPINA OIL*, CRYPTHECODINIUM COHNII OIL**, ADENOSINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE, CYTIDINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM GUANOSINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM INOSINE-5'- MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM URIDINE-5'-MONOPHOSPHATE, MIXED TOCOPHEROL CONCENTRATE, MONOGLYCERIDES, SOY LECITHIN, TAURINE. MINERALS: CALCIUM CHLORIDE, CALCIUM HYDROXIDE, CUPRIC SULFATE, FERROUS SULFATE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, MANGANESE SULFATE, POTASSIUM BICARBONATE, POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, POTASSIUM IODIDE, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM SELENITE, ZINC SULFATE. VITAMINS: ASCORBIC ACID, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, BETA CAROTENE, BIOTIN, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, CHOLINE CHLORIDE, CYANOCOBALAMIN, FOLIC ACID, INOSITOL, NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, VITAMIN D (CHOLECALCIFEROL), VITAMIN E (DL-ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE), VITAMIN K (PHYTONADIONE).