Finding the Best Baby Formula May Be Easier Than You Think
All U.S. Baby Formulas Meet the Same FDA Requirements
by Barbara S. Levine, R.D., Ph.D.
It’s a given these days that mother’s
milk is the best food for infants. Breast milk is loaded with a wide range of nutrients,
including special fats called lipids that boost infant brain power and eyesight,
laying the necessary nutritional groundwork for a healthy adult life. But given
the pressures of the modern world and health problems some mothers face, breastfeeding
isn’t always an option. Luckily, finding
the best baby formula for your newborn or growing child may be easier than you think.
At present, 70 percent of babies are
being fed formula as part of their daily diet by the time they are three months
old. Baby formulas have undergone a
sea of change in the 21st century, and bottle-fed babies now thrive on
formulas that perform almost like mother’s milk because they include many of the
same fats, such as the lipids DHA and ARA, and other naturally occurring nutrients
found in breast milk associated with developmental advantages.
If only parents could figure out which
brand to buy. Step into any large supermarket or pharmacy and you’ll be confronted
with shelf after shelf of formulas, each one implying that it may be better than
the rest, promising nutrition and shocking with price.
A new parent today is met with a dizzying
array of marketing messages when it comes to doing what is best for their babies.
And doing the best is all that parents
want, especially when it comes to finding the best baby formula for their babies.
Most people are surprised to learn
that the masked claims of superiority made by some brands are little more than marketing
hype. Sure, there are differences in the type of protein used and other variables,
but the basics of each formula are mandated by the
U.S.
government. Thanks to strict federal
regulations, the fact is that there is very little, if any, difference in the nutritional
values touted by the various national brands on the market today.
The Infant Formula Act
In keeping with the
Infant Formula Act, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strictly regulates
the minimum and maximum amount of every nutrient in all baby formulas, so the best
baby formula for your little one may be also be the cheapest.
A decade ago, chain stores began selling store-brand baby formulas alongside the better
known corporate brands that give away free baby formula to hospitals. Store-brand
baby
formulas offer complete nutrition for a baby’s first year, just like the more expensive
brands. The only difference is that the store brands don’t have to make enough money
to pay for expensive advertising campaigns and supplying hospitals with free baby
formula.
Consumers are catching on. According
to AC Nielsen, store-brand baby formula is the fastest-growing segment in the infant
formula category in the
United States.
The history of store-brand baby formulas
dates back to 1997 when Paul B. Manning and his
PBM Products first offered retailers the chance to carry branded baby formulas
under their own labels. Since that
time, the company has become the industry leader, offering store-brand nutritional
products to more than 20,000 retail locations in the
United States
and other parts of the world. The company even sells organic and kosher formulas,
and one that’s partially hydrolyzed for babies who have trouble with gas.
Only you and your doctor can find
the best baby formula for your child, and, thanks to the Infant Formula Act and
FDA regulations, there is no better formula than a store-brand baby formula.
About Dr. Barbara S. Levine
Barbara S. Levine, R.D., Ph.D., has
been a researcher, consultant and teacher of nutrition at some of the most prestigious
medical institutions in the country. She is the director of the Nutrition Information Center
and of the DHA Information Center and associate professor of nutrition in clinical medicine at Weill College of Medicine
of Cornell University.
Dr. Levine’s academic positions also include associate scientist at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and director of
clinical nutrition at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center. Her research focus currently centers on the nutritional interactions between genetics
and the prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer, as well as the
optimal diet for cognitive function and visual acuity in young children.
Dr. Levine holds numerous professional
memberships and is actively involved with local and national committees related
to diet, nutrition, and health issues. She has written and contributed articles
and papers for publication in leading health and medical journals. She has co-authored
two books, contributing Nutrition and Bone
to Orthopaedic Clinics of North America and Nutritional
Factors in Hypertension to Contemporary Issues in Clinical Nutrition.
Dr. Levine has written about nutrition
and health for several lay publications, including The New York Times, USA
Today, The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report,
Newsweek, Vogue, and Self.
She has also appeared on a number
of television programs, including CNN Crossfire, CBS This Morning,
Good Morning America, The Today Show, The TV Food Network,
Cable News Network, The View (interviewed by Barbara Walter) and The
Early Show (interviewed by Bryant Gumbel). Dr. Levine has conducted countless
radio interviews, conferences and seminars, and has served as a consultant to the
National Institutes of Health.
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