baby bottle feeding

The International Formula Council (IFC) has a long standing position in agreement with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that breastfeeding is the ideal infant feeding and that it offers specific infant and maternal health benefits.  The IFC also believes that mothers in consult with their health care professional should make informed infant feeding decisions for their babies, according to their life circumstances and the needs of their families.

In a joint statement released on December 30, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) said tests of factory-sealed containers of the formula, made by Mead Johnson Nutrition Co., showed no traces of the bacteria Cronobacter. Federal health investigators cleared the infant formula of suspected bacterial contamination that last week prompted retailers to pull a batch of the product from their shelves.

The infant formula industry takes all potential safety concerns very seriously, and we support science-based efforts to produce infant formula products of the highest possible quality.  When new information becomes available on substances like BPA, we support bringing that information forward through the accepted process of scientific peer review and evaluation. 

International Formula Council* (IFC) supports breastfeeding as the ideal choice for infant feeding. IFC also supports the right of parents to choose the feeding option for their baby that best fits their individual family situation.  For those mothers who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infant formula is the only safe, nutritious, and recommended alternative.

Infant formula manufacturers take their responsibility to provide safe and nutritious infant formula to millions of infants every day very seriously. Infant formula is the most highly regulated food in the world and continues to be the only safe, nutritious and recommended alternative to breast milk. Because it is often a sole-source food product for newborn babies, its nutrient content is critical to support a baby’s proper growth and development.

In Rebecca Goldin, Ph.D and Cindy Merrick's recent July STATS article, the answer to this question is “not likely.”  Although the authors note it is possible there will be a drop in SIDS rates if breastfeeding rates rise, they state: “…there is limited evidence that breastfeeding has an impact on SIDS.

The second edition Infant Feeding Guidelines from the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (PNPG) American Dietetic Association (ADA) titled, “Infant Feedings: Guidelines for Preparation of Human Milk and Formula in Health Care Facilities,” is now available for purchase at: http://www.eatright.org/shop/product.aspx?id=6442463432