Members of the International Formula Council* (IFC) are dedicated to producing safe and nutritious products. Ingredients in U.S. infant formulas are carefully quality-controlled and manufactured to the highest industry and government standards. Some infant formula ingredients, such as soy protein, can be derived from crops which have been enhanced through biotechnology (i.e., genetically modified). An extensive body of sound scientific evidence supports the safety of these ingredients.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies have declared that foods and ingredients produced through biotechnology are safe. The FDA also has concluded that all genetically modified (GM)ingredients they have approved for use in human foods, including infant formulas, are the same in composition, nutritional value and quality as non-biotechnology derived ingredients, and therefore labeling of foods containing GM ingredients is not required in the U.S.
IFC members adhere to all local, regional and national standards as they relate to the use and labeling of GM ingredients. Parents and health professionals can be assured that U.S. infant formulas are safe and nutritious.
Background
Agricultural biotechnology, also known as genetic engineering or genetic modification, has enabled the development of new, improved varieties of crops such as corn and soybeans, which are used in the manufacture of many foods. Modern agricultural technology is an efficient and precise way to achieve the benefits of crop improvement and is one of the most extensively researched and reviewed agricultural developments. Biotechnological advances have included improved resistance to plant diseases and reduced reliance on pesticides.
U.S. regulatory agencies including the FDA, the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with individual state governments, work together to ensure that crops produced with biotechnology are safe to eat and environmentally sound.
Additionally, health professional organizations, including the World Health Organization, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Medical Association, and the American Dietetic Association, have endorsed the safety of crops enhanced through biotechnology.
Updated October 2011
* The International Formula Council is an association of manufacturers and marketers of formulated nutrition products, e.g., infant formulas and adult nutritionals, whose members are based predominantly in North America. IFC members are: Abbott Nutrition; Mead Johnson Nutrition; Nestlé Infant Nutrition; PBM Products, LLC, A Perrigo Company; and Pfizer Nutrition.
