On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced an operation targeted at “taking steps to enhance its efforts to ensure the ongoing quality, safety, nutritional adequacy, and resilience of the domestic infant formula supply.”

HHS, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), announced “Operation Stork Speed.”

“The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said.

“Helping each family and child get off to the right start from birth is critical to our pursuit to Make America Healthy Again,” he added.

Per HHS:

The FDA is announcing a set of actions and initiatives focused on infant formula, such as beginning the nutrient review process and increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants. The agency is also encouraging companies to develop new infant formulas and clarify opportunities to help inform consumers about formula ingredients. These enhanced FDA commitments are focused on making sure a strong supply of the sole source of nutrition for formula-fed babies and children remains available for one of our nation’s most vulnerable populations.

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“The FDA is deeply committed to ensuring that moms and other caregivers of infants and young children and other individuals who rely on infant formula for their nutritional needs have confidence that these products are safe, consistently available, and contain the nutrients essential to promote health and wellbeing during critical stages of development and life,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, M.D., M.P.H. “Whether breastfed, bottle fed or both, the rising generation must be nourished in a way that promotes health and longevity over the course of their lives.”

The FDA uses its authorities, both longstanding and newly granted, to uphold the safety, nutritional adequacy and resilience of infant formula and the infant formula supply.

“U.S. formulas are currently required to contain seed oils and many contain corn syrup as the first ingredient. Many moms face criminal penalties by importing safer EU formulations. High levels of glyphosate and heavy metals are often found,” Calley Means said.

Full text:

BREAKING:@SecKennedy announced major initiative to CLEAN UP infant formula.

U.S. formulas are currently required to contain seed oils and many contain corn syrup as the first ingredient.

Many moms face criminal penalties by importing safer EU formulations.

High levels of glyphosate and heavy metals are often found.

Secretary Kennedy is directing the FDA to:
✅Start the first comprehensive update and review of infant formula nutrients since 1998.
✅Increase testing for heavy metals and other contaminants.
✅Extend the personal importation policy
✅Work with companies to increase transparency and clearer labeling.
✅Collaborate with the NIH to address gaps concerning short- and long-term health outcomes associated with formula feeding in infancy and childhood across the lifespan.

This administration is putting a stake in the ground that the US will lead the world in the creation of healthy formulas for our babies.

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From Bloomberg:

Under Kennedy, the US Food and Drug Administration will begin a comprehensive examination of the nutrients used in infant formula and increase testing for heavy metals and other contaminants, HHS said in a statement Tuesday. The announcement comes as Kennedy was scheduled to meet with executives of companies that make infant formula, according to people familiar with the roundtable discussion.

It’s unclear exactly which companies were represented at the meeting. Firms that sell infant formula include Abbott Laboratories (ABT), which makes Similac, Enfamil maker Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (RBGPF), and relative newcomer Bubs Australia Ltd. HHS didn’t respond to a request for comment on the meeting.

Kennedy planned to discuss nutritional standards and shoring up the supply chain, one of the people said. Kennedy posted on social media in May 2024 that he was concerned about toxic metals in formula. During his presidential campaign, he said that if he were to be elected, the FDA, a part of HHS that he now oversees, would scrutinize formula ingredients.

 

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