Positive Health Contributions of Infant Formula

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Positive Contributions of the Infant Formula Industry

IFC Statement on Positive Contributions of the Infant Formula Industry to Infant Health and Nutrition

The International Formula Council (IFC) reiterates its long-standing commitment to improve the nutritional status, health and the survival of infants and young children worldwide.  IFC members agree with health professionals’ position that breastfeeding is the preferred method of feeding infants, and if a mother cannot or chooses not to exclusively breastfeed for six months – an iron-fortified infant formula is the only safe alternative. 

Through a concerted effort by the health community, governments, and industry rates of breastfeeding incidence and duration have increased in recent decades. The World Health Organization and UNICEF have documented these trends. The use of baby formula also has increased during this time, replacing the use of inappropriate substitutes such as sugar water, cornstarch water, rice water and whole cow’s milk that do not provide/ensure necessary levels of important nutrition.

Since the development of the first commercial infant formula more than 135 years ago, each decade has brought new advancements and the constant refinement of infant formula products’ nutrient composition to ensure that non-breastfed infants receive the essential nutrients needed to thrive. Today’s baby formulas contain energy-providing nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fat as well as water), which provide the calories necessary to maintain bodily functions, support activity, and promote growth. They also promote desirable immune functions as an outcome of overall nutrition.  Protein provides the building blocks necessary to form and repair tissue.  Additionally, baby formulas contain appropriate vitamins and minerals, which are essential in the metabolism of the energy nutrients.  Minerals play an important part in bone structure, regulate certain body functions and, together with water, help maintain the body’s water balance.

The baby formula industry, through ongoing research and innovation, has continually developed new products that can help infants thrive.  These formulas are helping to improve the survival rates and long-term health outcomes of many infants, including helping to significantly reduce the rate of iron-deficiency anemia in specific populations.

As an industry, we are dedicated to providing the safest and highest quality infant formula possible.  As such, over the years we have increased routine testing and control measures for monitoring microorganism levels in our products and have strengthened our emphasis on educating consumers and health care professionals about the importance of proper preparation, handling and use of powdered baby formula.

Because not all mothers can or choose to breastfeed and poor nutrition is attributed to more than half of child deaths worldwide, more work is needed to improve the water supply in developing countries, to help combat malnutrition, and to educate mothers that baby formula is the only safe, nutritious, and recommended alternative to breast milk.  Additionally, efforts to increase breastfeeding rates would be best served by addressing a major barrier to breastfeeding -- the lack of workplace support programs.  Research indicates that returning to work is one of the most common reasons women stop breastfeeding.  Data show that women who work full-time start breastfeeding at virtually the same rate as all mothers.  But by the time their infants are six months old, breastfeeding rates for full-time working moms are significantly lower.  Providing workplace support for women who wish to continue to breastfeed will have a significant impact on breastfeeding duration rates.

Much remains to be done to improve feeding practices and ensure optimal nutrition for all infants. The key to achieving these objectives is to focus on the infant’s health outcome as opposed to the feeding method.

The infant formula industry renews its commitment to collaborating with interested parties to develop and communicate positive, factual information about appropriate infant feeding choices that support proper growth and development of infants.

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IFC is an international association of manufacturers and marketers of formulated nutrition products (e.g., infant formulas and adult nutritionals) whose members are predominantly based in North America. IFC members include all U.S. manufacturers: Mead Johnson Nutrition; Nestlé Infant Nutrition; PBM Products, LLC; Abbott Nutrition; Solus Products, LLC; and Wyeth Nutrition