This one was really hard to write. It was a bit of phone calling, a lot of digging and a lot of reading. I had no real intention of doing a baby formula cheat sheet but Healthy Child Healthy World asked me to help out and then I became so engrossed in it that I compiled all this information. So I’m going to share it with you. I want to preface this by saying I am a big supporter of breastfeeding. I breastfed both my children, but I know people use or supplement with formula… that’s just the way it is and I do not judge anyone for the choices they make. Now let’s brush up on what I was looking for:
BPA in Packaging: Back when I began this site, there was BPA in practically everything and before any real big buzz started. My first phone calls to Enfamil in November of 2007 went something along the lines of “There is BPA in the can lining and its approved by the FDA so don’t worry your pretty little head over it.” As time went on an the news and research piled up, companies started to investigate BPA free packaging to cover their butts. I’m happy to report that the majority of powdered baby formula is now packaged in BPA Free packaging.
DHA/ARA: The majority of formula on the market, including organic, contains added DHA and ARA for brain and eye development. Most of the formula companies use a DHA product from a company called Martek BioScience (life DHA – you can see the logo on most formula labels). The controversy, if you can call it that, is that the method of extraction uses hexane, acid and bleach to extract the oils. All the companies I spoke to that use life DHA told me that it’s the “only FDA approved method of DHA extraction” and that there are no detectable levels of hexane in the formula. Only one company that we found uses an alternative method of DHA extraction, and that’s Nature’s One. Their DHA and ARA are derived from egg phospholipids using a water process. (Please not that Nature’s One does not put DHA/ARA supplements in their formulas. It comes as a separate powder parents may add themselves) Nature’s One says this method is also FDA approved.
Added Carbohydrate: I didn’t get into specifics of every brand but when I learned that Similac Organic uses Organic Sugar Cane (sucrose) as opposed to Organic Lactose, I wanted to check and see what other brands used. In Europe they instituted a ban on sucrose in infant formula due to its link to childhood obesity (except for babies with allergies). The European Union adopted the new rules based on the recommendations of the Scientific Committee on Food, which found that sucrose provided no real nutritional benefits, and could bring about a fatal metabolic disorder, and contribute to overfeeding. The FDA does not regulate what sugars can be used (or how much per serving), as long as they are safe. I’m not saying Similac Organic is a bad choice, but if you are concerned about the use of sucrose I looked into what other brands used for easy comparison. Every other brand I looked into uses Organic Lactose or Lactose. You will have to consult with your pediatrician on this one.
Fluoride: Whether you are pro-or anti- fluoride, there are some who may not know that it is present in infant formula. So now there is fluoride in your water, in your infant formula and you’ve possibly got the kid on fluoride drops and you’re kid could be at risk of fluorosis? The Journal of American Dental Association recommends breastmilk of course, but for those using formula, they recommend using ready-made (we disagree due to the BPA content of some of the packaging). Their secondary recommendation for powdered formula is to use fluoride free or low fluoride water (purified, demineralized, deionized or distilled, as well as reverse-osmosis filtered water). The JADA published some test results last October of fluoride levels in popular infant formulas. I picked out the numbers for you so you may cross reference on our spreadsheet yourself. But you can download the report here as well to see the full report: Assessing a Potential Risk Factor for Enamel Fluorosis: A Preliminary Evaluation of Fluoride Content in Infant Formulas (PDF). Optimal fluoride level in drinking water is 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million. (I should mention that I learned a lot about fluoride and about the JADA report from SAFBaby.com. They have a great deal of thoughtful and thorough information so please check them out.)
Perchlorate: Also known as rocket fuel. Stories broke on the news last April that trace amounts of rocket fuel was detected in infant formulas. The CDC tested formula for perchlorate because of concerns that it can damage thyroid function. The did 3 tests on a sampling of baby formula brands including Enfamil, Similac, Publix and Kroger brands. To sum it up, formulas with lactose tested highest (Similac topping the results with the highest detected). You can see the full range of results in the CDC’s document: CDC: Table of Perchlorate Levels in Powdered Infant Formula (PDF). Let it not be said that perchlorate is found in just about everything, including breastmilk. So unfortunately there is no way to avoid it all together. Natures One offers this information regarding perchlorate in their formula.
Now that you know all this (aside from hating me for bringing it up) you can take a look at this information in our cheat sheet which makes this all more at-a-glance. Healthy Child Healthy World will be publishing some pocket shoppers guides too which I’ll link up when they are ready to go.
DOWNLOAD IT! (PDF) (Last updated: April 3, 2010)
Quick SafeMama™ Formula Feeding Recommendations
- Choose Powdered over liquid (BPA in can lining)
- Choose organic formulas over non-organic (pesticides and hormones in cow’s milk)
- Use spring/distilled or filtered water for preparing formula
- Choose glass, silicone, BPA-Free bottles
- Do not microwave water or formula in plastic (It’s not recommended to microwave formula at all – heating water in glass is ok)
- Wash plastic bottles with mild detergent by hand to prevent leaching over time, replace when they become worn
*Disclaimer: I feel I should remind you that it’s important to discuss this information and any dietary changes you plan to make with your Pediatrician before doing so. We always recommend breastfeeding when and if possible for the first 12 months.Additionally, if you have any concerns or questions about any of the formula we mention, feel free to call the company and ask them. They were all relatively helpful.
Thank you so much for all this wonderful information. I am an exclusively breastfeeding mom, but at the same time I would like to be somewhat knowledgeable with formula in case we did have to ever supplment with it in the future. So once again thank you for your time in putting everything together as I’m sure many could really benefit from it.
There may be BPA in the lining of canned liquid, but I know that Similac ready-to-feed liquid comes in BPA-free plastic bottles–I can’t remember off the top of my head, but they’re either #1 or #2. I do remember when I was formula feeding, I participated in an EWG survey about formula packaging and when the results came out the EWG person I was corresponding with specifically told me that the plastic bottles were BPA-free plastic.
@electriclady: Thank you, yes we do mention that in the actual cheat sheet in the Similac sections. 🙂
Thanks so much for all your hard work!!
My daughter was breastfed (stay at home mom)…but I know how hard it is for other moms who have to go back to work after their maternity leave.
Why can’t the USA have a one year maternity leave like Canada!?
That’s something that I so envy from the Canadian moms who are able to be with their babies until they turn 1 year old.
Please note that Nature’s One DOES NOT put their DHA/ARA in their BABY’S ONLY formula. It is sold as a separate supplement for those parents who want it.
Yes Jo, I will make a note of that in the spreadsheet. It does in fact come as a separate supplement in a powder form. Thanks 🙂
I appreciate the time you put into this, Kathy. But I do want to speak out a little on behalf of us “formula” moms. Before having my daughter, I read everything I could on breastfeeding (including Nursing Mother’s Companion and Nursing Mother, Working Mother), hired a lactation consultant, got a breastpump, and was convinced that I would breastfeed, no matter the obstacles.
Well, I got little support from my hospital and came home with a baby unable to latch despite my efforts. The lactation consultant came over the night I came home to try to help, despite my somewhat infected, tender nipples. The next day I came down with a UTI and was in so much pain that it was difficult to nurse. The doctor put me on medications that would allow me to nurse but they didn’t work so I had to go on Cipro – where I couldn’t nurse.
I continued to pump through all of this despite intense pain.
When I was finally off the Cipro, it turned out that I had mastitis and, by now, it was too late to get my baby to latch. I intended to just keep pumping, but my breasts were like rocks — I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t even hold my baby. It was nonstop, horrible pain (far worse than contractions).
Eventually, after much agony, I gave up for the sake of my relationship with my baby.
So formula-feeding is not always a *choice* some of us make that others can be kind enough “not to judge.” For some of us, formula is a necessity that we feel badly enough about without having others reinforce the superiority of breastfeeding (because, let’s face it, anyone who’s reading this formula cheat sheet is likely not breastfeeding, or at least not “purely” breastfeeding).
I’ve spoken to quite a few mothers who were also devastated about not being able to breastfeed, so I felt I needed to speak out because, although you may not have done so intentionally, the tone of your preface seems to imply that such mothers care less about their children.
I just want to tell those mothers who aren’t able to breastfeed for *whatever* reason – it’s okay. You’re just as good a mother as those who do breastfeed. And your kids will be just fine too.
Thank you, Beth, for your comment.
It is never my intention to be judgmental nor do I feel my choice of words are inappropriate. I’m not bestowing my non-judgments on anyone as a favor. I just simply do not judge anyone for anything they do. Period. That being said, I use formula. And I know that breastfeeding is not always possible, as you have demonstrated. I would not have spent hours upon hours of my time calling and reading and creating this sheet so that I can feel superior to someone else. While I appreciate you being kind enough to “thank me” for my time, I want to reiterate that because I used the word “choice” does not mean I think anyone is a bad parent for using formula. If I thought that, I may as well lump myself into the group.
Okay, fair enough. Thanks for the clarification.