New Report to FDA: Replacing Mother — Imitating Human Breast Milk in the Laboratory

[carriebft]

THe full report:

http://cornucopia.org/DHA/DHA_FullReport.pdf

Summary:

http://foodconsumer.org/7777/8888/C_...dy_shows.shtml



The question at hand is "Novel Oils in Infant Formula and Organic Food: Safe and Valuable Functional Food or Risky Marketing Gimmick?"

Conclusion
The lack of labeling of infant formula with DHA- and ARA-containing oils does not adequately protect the health and well being of infants who experience adverse reactions, such as diarrhea, bloating, vomiting, and gastrointestinal distress from the consumption
of formula with DHA and ARA oils. Currently, no labeling or warning is required, and formula manufacturers are not voluntarily
warning parents of the possibility of adverse reactions. Parents are unaware that the simple switch to a non-DHA/ARA-supplemented formula may relieve their infant’s pain and suffering from adverse reactions to Martek’s DHASCO and ARASCO. Taking the action urged by Cornucopia and NABA would alert parents and caregivers of formula-fed infants to the possibility of adverse reactions caused by algal DHA and fungal ARA, providing them with knowledge that may help them end their infants’ pain and distress.

From the Summary:

A new study shows that efforts to imitate human breast milk in the laboratory by fortifying infant formula with oils from algae and fungus are a marketing gimmick that puts infants at risk. Study findings include:


1. Serious risks in premarket safety tests ignored

2. Infants seriously sickened by what some medical professionals describe as the "diarrhea formula"

3. Virulent and long-term diarrhea recognized as grave health risk to infants

4. Industry accused of misleading marketing/advertising—discourag ing breast-feeding

5. Novel oils extracted with a toxic solvent that is banned in organic production, hexane

6. Benefit to cognitive and visual development of infants is mixed at best

[CherryBomb]

Thanks for the link!

[elanorh]

You know, when Ina was first diagnosed with reflux, I found a mainstream support board for reflux parents. Almost all the parents there had ff'd infants, and it was probably around 2004 that the standard response there when parents would complain about their babe's symptoms, became:

Have you tried switching to a NON "DHA-ARA" formula yet? That's all my little one needed.

There was a lot of frustration there at the time that no one in the medical establishment seemed willing to acknowledge the connections that the parents were seeing themselves.

I haven't posted or lurked there in several years, so don't know if they are still beating the anti-DHA formula drum there or not, but thought it was interesting. Of course, I spent a lot of time there posting about how to maintain bf while caring for a reflux baby ... it was a bit frustrating!

[PiesandAbrosmama]

this is a big deal. So many women are giving there babies acid reflux meds like prilosec (spell) to infants because of reflux. This might be why. . .