DHA & ARA in Infant Formulas May Be Linked to GI Problems

The National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA) recently contributed to a report published by The Cornucopia Institute on DHA and ARA in infant formula. “Replacing Mother: Imitating Human Breast Milk in the Laboratory” details research on adding novel oils omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, produced in labs and extracted from algae and fungus, into infant formula products. The report presents findings indicating that these additives may endanger the health of some formula-fed newborns and toddlers by causing diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems, despite aggressive marketing campaigns suggesting the products are close replications of breast milk. To download the free report, go to http://cornucopia.org/index.php/replacing-mother-infant-formula-report. The webpage also links to an Action Alert, stemming from a petition filed with the FDA by NABA and The Cornucopia Institute, recommending a warning label on infant formula containing these novel oils.