Baby formula shortage in the US...

[chieftain]

What's the real reason behind the shortage? I just read that the military has dropped 35 tons of the stuff from overseas into Indiana:

Military flight brings 35,000 kg of baby formula to US amid supply crisis

President Joe Biden’s administration has struggled to address a nationwide shortage of formula.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Treasure Searcher]

Like my dad said "what did mothers do, before there was baby formula?"

 

[andial]

"Women made their tits so big they couldn't breast feed anymore"

Yogi Berra

 

[Agavegirl1]

There’s a message on the radio this past week from the Wisconsin department of health and human services. In it, the message cautions parents not to use goat milk, cow milk or plant based milk, do not dilute and don’t make your own. Listeners are urged to go to the departments website where it basically says the same thing and suggests trying different stores , food pantries and not to stockpile. Then is gives the advice to contact their pediatrician or local WIC office. So, all the things people did for decades when breast feeding was not an option are too dangerous now.

 

[hammerhead]

Not an accident. Our current administration is trying to kill us.

 

[chieftain]

Is no formula being manufactured anywhere in the US?

 

[hammerhead]

Is no formula being manufactured anywhere in the US?

There are 3 companies that manufacture infant formula. I can't copy the website address with this phone but I did find info doing a Google search

 

[ttazzman]

Is no formula being manufactured anywhere in the US?

was 4 companies doing distribution/manufacturing ...most manufacturing is done via contract with other companies........one company had a issue and a recall FDA shut them down and wouldnt facilitate reopening ....FDA can be ridiculous on these things.......FDA also will not let you import formula due to it not being approved by them .......this is basicly a FDA regulation problem and part of the climate created by the new administration of comply or die ..........this one backfired on them i think.....now government is importing formula from overseas and bypassing thier own rules and allowing the one company that had a issue to reopen etc

most baby formula is made by Dairy Coop plants on contract for as a main ingredient is milk products ....years ago i built the main plant that manufactures for Bristol Myer (Enfamil) in the midwest

 

[andial]

"If the food don't come from a factory it aint no good"

Yogi Berra

 

[TAEZZAR]

"If the food don't come from a factory it aint no good"

Yogi Berra

A human factory ?

 

[DodgebyDave]

you gotta have a villain before you can need a hero

 

[UcoOnca]

 

[Wellsburg]

We have a 4 month-old granddaughter. My daughter has a bio-chem degree from Penn State. We have been researching ingredients on all of the infant formula labels. Most of these formulas are garbage.

The only brand that WIC and SNAP will supply is Similac made by Abbott Labs. The US federal gov't contracts with Abbott for the entire country. Similac is soy and sugar and some trace vitamins/minerals. That's all. Basically soy beans and corn syrup.

There are very few brands that are milk whey based with the fat needed to aid in brain development. Some Gerber formulas and some Organics are whey based and cost three times as much as Similac. ($45.00 per can versus $17.00 for the same size).

Daughter and I had a discussion about this recently and arrived at a theory. Poor people get formula vouchers from WIC and SNAP for Similac only. Their children are mal-nourished and do not have normal brain development since they are not getting proper animal fats and complex proteins, so many grow up stupid, learning disabled. So, poor children stay stupid by design? Maybe the gov't wants to keep them mentally stunted?

 

[chieftain]

^ Now that's interesting.

 

[Joseph]

There’s a message on the radio this past week from the Wisconsin department of health and human services. In it, the message cautions parents not to use goat milk, cow milk or plant based milk, do not dilute and don’t make your own. Listeners are urged to go to the departments website where it basically says the same thing and suggests trying different stores , food pantries and not to stockpile. Then is gives the advice to contact their pediatrician or local WIC office. So, all the things people did for decades when breast feeding was not an option are too dangerous now.Holle Goat Milk Formula Organic Infant Baby Milk Stage 1 400g

I was curious about this. many folks have been touting the benefits of goat milk for years

Holle Goat Milk Formula Organic Infant Baby Milk Stage 1 USA Seller 400g is the perfect choice for your baby when he or she does not like cow’s milk formulas. All babies are unique and special, and the truth is that not all babies like cow’s milk. Goat’s milk does, however, make the perfect substitute. It tastes great and your baby will get the same nutritional benefits.

Holle Goat Milk Formula Organic Infant Baby Milk Stage 1 400g

Holle Goat Milk Formula Organic Infant Baby Milk Stage 1. Holle goat milk formula 1 contains all the nutrients needed by an infant from birth to one year.

www.formuland.com

 

[Buck]

lol

4 out of 5 babies surveyed recommended goats milk for their peers who drink from a bottle

 

[Joseph]

Is no formula being manufactured anywhere in the US?

I haven't vetted this, but someone said if you're ordering on line, you can change your location from US to Canada and can find formula
FWIW

 

[the_shootist]

Daughter and I had a discussion about this recently and arrived at a theory. Poor people get formula vouchers from WIC and SNAP for Similac only. Their children are mal-nourished and do not have normal brain development since they are not getting proper animal fats and complex proteins, so many grow up stupid, learning disabled. So, poor children stay stupid by design? Maybe the gov't wants to keep them mentally stunted?

It's all part of the government's plan

 

[Uglytruth]

Isn't aluminum tied to autism?

Aluminum Contents of Human Milk, Cow's Milk, and Infant... : Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

Aluminum contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in samples of human milk in the colostrum, intermediate, and mature stages; infant formulas from eight manufacturers; and various types and brands of commercially available cow's milk. Results: Mean aluminum concentration was...

journals.lww.com

Aluminum Contents of Human Milk, Cow's Milk, and Infant Formulas​

Fernandez-Lorenzo, José R.*†; Cocho, José A.*; Rey-Goldar, M. Luz†; Couce, Mariluz*; Fraga, José M.*†
Author Information
Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition: March 1999 - Volume 28 - Issue 3 - p 270-275

• FREE

Abstract​

Background:​

Aluminum toxicity is well documented and contamination of milk formulas has been implicated as the source of accumulation in bone and brain tissues. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the aluminum contents of human milk, cow's milk, and infant formulas.

Methods:​

Aluminum contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in samples of human milk in the colostrum, intermediate, and mature stages; infant formulas from eight manufacturers; and various types and brands of commercially available cow's milk.

Results:​

Mean aluminum concentration was lowest in human milk (23.4 ± 9.6 µg/l), and did not differ significantly between colostrum, intermediate-stage and mature-stage milk. Mean aluminum concentration was 70 µg/l in cow's milk, and 226 µg/l in reconstituted infant formulas. Aluminum concentrations in infant formulas differed markedly among manufacturers; concentration in milk from one of the manufacturers was particularly high (mean, 551 µg/l; range, 302-1149 µg/l). These values are for milk reconstituted with aluminum-free water under laboratory conditions; formulas prepared with tap water in the University Hospital's infant-feeding unit had even higher aluminum content. Experiments showed that aluminum concentration in the high-aluminum milk could be reduced by more than 70% at the manufacturing stage, by using low-aluminum components.

Conclusions:​

The results of the present study support the recommendations for infant formula manufacturers to strive to reduce aluminum concentration in their products.
Aluminum may interfere with numerous processes in cells of the nervous system and other tissue (1). Neonates and nursing infants are at particular risk, notably because of the immaturity of the renal apparatus and consequent poor excretion of aluminum (2).
For many years aluminum was considered harmless. The first indication of toxicity came in 1962, when McLaughlin et al. (3) reported an association between prolonged exposure to aluminum and encephalopathy. In 1969, Kerr et al. (4) reported a high incidence of bone fractures in patients undergoing hemodialysis and attributed this finding to aluminum toxicity. Investigators in subsequent studies have reported several effects of excessive aluminum levels, including severe neurologic disorders, cardiac disorders, osteomalacia, anemia, and immunodepression (5). Such disorders are particularly common among patients with renal insufficiency or subjects receiving phosphate-fixing drugs with high aluminum content. Baluarte et al. (6) and Foley et al. (7) reported severe neurologic disorders and osteomalacia in children with congenital renal disease treated with high-aluminum phosphate-fixing agents. In 1984, Sedman (8) observed high aluminum concentrations in blood, urine, and bone of preterm neonates who had been supported by parenteral feeding and suggested that aluminum poisoning may be one of the causative factors of osteopenia in the premature infant. In 1990, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended that aluminum concentration in parenteral feedings not exceed 25 µg/l (9). High plasma levels of aluminum have also been reported in children receiving antacids (10).
In 1985, Freundlich et al. (11) reported aluminum poisoning in two neonates with renal insufficiency, suggesting that it may have been because of aluminum in the formula milk that the infants had consumed. To date, however, no other evidence has been produced to support the possibility that aluminum poisoning can be caused by infant formula.
The aluminum content of infant formulas and commercial cow's milk is rarely stated on the package. Studies of the concentration of aluminum in human milk and infant formulas indicate a high variability (12-16). The Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics has recently called for continuous efforts to reduce aluminum content in infant formulas (17). We report an investigation of aluminum content in a wide range of milk samples, including human milk in the colostrum, intermediate, and mature stages; infant formulas from eight manufacturers; and commercially available cow's milk (whole, semiskim, or skim).

MATERIAL AND METHODS​

Aluminum content was determined in 189 samples: 45 samples of human milk (14 of colostrum, 22 from the intermediate stage [7-10 days after birth], 9 from the mature stage [more than 10 days after birth]); 64 samples of infant formulas (17 samples of starter formulas, 47 samples of continuation formulas; formulas from eight manufacturers); 78 samples of commercial brands of cow's milk (53 whole, 10 semiskim, 15 skim); and 2 samples of a commercial brand of soy milk.
Possible effects of the preparation step were investigated by determining aluminum content in infant formulas after reconstitution in the laboratory using aluminum-free water and after reconstitution in our hospital's infant-feeding unit. Aluminum content was also determined in commercial ready-to-use formulas. In addition, we monitored aluminum content in tap water and formula milk from the infant-feeding unit daily for 1 week.
Samples were taken directly from the package or the mother's breast, and stored at 4°C until analyzed. The instruments used for sampling were either polyethylene or polypropylene (tubes and syringes) or stainless steel (needles). All pipettes and containers used in sample handling and analysis were prewashed in 10% nitric acid for at least 48 hours. Plastic instruments were kept under cover until use.
Preparation of samples and analysis were performed in the atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) area in clean, controlled conditions. The plastic material was always stopped or under 10% nitric acid. The room was kept dust and draught free. In our experience, an absolutely clean room is not necessary at these aluminum levels.
Ultrapure water, obtained with the Elgastat system (ELGA, Bucks, England), was used throughout. Calibration standards were prepared by dilution of a stock solution (1000 mg/l aluminum; Titrisol 9967; Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). The nitric acid was Suprapur quality (Merck 441). Triton X-100 (Scintran, ref. 24630; BDH Chemicals, Ltd., Dagenham, Essex, United Kingdom) was used as a surfactant for the preparation of samples and standards.
Aluminum contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry in an apparatus with electrical heating in a graphite chamber (model 1100B; Perkin-Elmer, Norwalk, CT, U.S.A.), using graphite pyrolysis tubes and a L'Vov platform (Perkin-Elmer). The optimized temperature program and the instrumental parameters used are summarized in Table 1.
TABLE 1:
Instrumental parameters and temperature programs used in the ETAAS analysis of milk samples
Samples were diluted in double-distilled water containing 0.2% nitric acid and 0.2% Triton X-100. The dilution was adjusted so that the concentration in the sample fell within the most reliable part of the calibration curve. In all cases, the cited aluminum content of a sample is the mean of two determinations.
Reference materials from the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were used as internal quality controls. Our laboratory has participated from the outset in the Worldwide Interlaboratory Quality Control for Aluminum program conducted by the Societé Franĉaise de Biologie Clinique. Accuracy data are reported in detail in Tables 2A and 2B. Only information values for aluminum are provided for the reference materials from the IAEA and NIST.
TABLE 2a:
Precision data in aluminum determination with reference materials
TABLE 2b:
Accuracy and precision data in aluminum determination with samples from Worldwide Interlaboratory Aluminum Quality Control (France)
In every batch, two or three samples from the External Quality Control Program were included; precision and accuracy results for four levels of aluminum, are summarized in Table 2B. Results were always close to the mean values and are included in the mean ± 1 SD interval.
Aluminum contents in the different sample groups were compared by the Wilcoxon test, applying the Bonferroni correction when more than two groups were compared. Unless otherwise stated, statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

RESULTS​

Human Milk​

Aluminum contents in the human milk samples are listed in Table 3. Mean concentration was 25.7 µg/l in colostrum, 23.3 µg/l in intermediate-stage milk, and 21.5 µg/l in mature-stage milk; none of the pairwise differences was statistically significant. The overall mean (± SD) was 23.9 ± 9.6 µg/l, and the overall range was 7 to 42 µg/l.
TABLE 3:
Mean aluminum contents in human milk

Infant Formulas​

Considering all 64 samples together, mean aluminum concentration was 225.9 µg/l (range, 8-1149 µg/l; Table 4). Mean aluminum concentration was somewhat higher in the 17 samples of the continuation formulas (245.8 µg/l) than in the 47 samples of the starter formulas (218.6 µg/l), although this difference was not statistically significant (Table 4). When the different infant formulas were considered separately (Table 5), mean aluminum content was less than 100 µg/l in three formulas, between 100 and 300 µg/l in six, and more than 300 µg/l in three.
TABLE 4:
Mean aluminum contents in the infant formula samples
TABLE 5:
Mean aluminum contents in the infant formula samples
We also investigated whether aluminum content is affected by the reconstitution procedure. Specifically, aluminum was determined in formula milks reconstituted with aluminum-free water under laboratory conditions, in commercially available ready-to-use formulas, and in formulas reconstituted in our hospital's infant-feeding unit. The results are summarized in Figure 1. Aluminum content in milks reconstituted with aluminum-free water was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in ready-to-use formulations and milks reconstituted in the infant-feeding unit. There was no significant difference between aluminum contents in the latter two sample groups.
FIG. 1:
Mean aluminum contents (µg/l) in infant formulas a) prepared under laboratory conditions with Al-free water, b) prepared in our hospital's infant-feed unit, or c) purchased ready for use.
With the goal of further investigating the effects of aluminum content in the water on the final concentration of this element in reconstituted formula milk, we monitored the aluminum content in tap water and in reconstituted milk from the infant-feeding unit daily over a 1-week period. The results (Fig. 2) clearly show that final concentration varied considerably depending on aluminum concentration in the tap water supply.
FIG. 2:
Aluminum contents (µg/l) in tap water from our hospital's infant-feed unit, and in infant formulas prepared in this unit, monitored over a seven-day period.

Cow's Milk​

Considering all 80 samples together, mean aluminum concentration was 70.1 µg/l (Table 6). Mean aluminum concentration was 69.0 µg/l in the 53 samples of whole milk, 58.7 µg/l in the 10 samples of semiskim milk, 64.8 µg/l in the 15 samples of skim milk, and 152.5 µg/l in the two samples of soy milk. aluminum content did not differ significantly between any pair of sample groups, although content in the soy milk was more than double that observed in the other groups.
TABLE 6:
Mean aluminum contents in the commercial milk samples
We also investigated possible effects of type of packaging on aluminum content (results not shown). Tetrabrik-packaged milk showed a mean concentration of 74.7 µg/l, versus 57.5 µg/l for milk sold in plastic bags and 42.6 µg/l for milks sold in plastic bottles; none of these differences was statistically significant. Mean aluminum content in ultra-high temperature milks (73.5 µg/l) was significantly higher than in pasteurized milks (49.9 µg/l; p < 0.01; Fig. 3).
FIG. 3:
Mean aluminum contents (µg/l) in the 80 commercial milk samples, classified by sterilization procedure (UHT or pasteurized).

DISCUSSION​

The results of the present study indicate that the aluminum content in human milk (mean, 23.9 ± 9.6 µg/l) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in commercially available cow's milk (mean, 70.1 µg/l) and infant formulas (mean, 225.9 µg/l; Fig. 4). The difference between the cow's milk mean and the infant formula mean was likewise significant (p < 0.001).
FIG. 4:
Mean aluminum contents (µg/l) in the three main sample groups (infant formulas, human milk, and cow's milk).
In addition, investigators have found that human milk has the lowest aluminum content: For example, a report by the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics (17) states that the mean aluminum content of human milk has ranges from 4 to 65 µg/l in different studies. In a previous study in Spain, Ballabriga et al. (18) obtained even lower values (mean, 6.5 ± 5.0 µg/l; range, 0.9-19.8 µg/l) than in the present study. To date, the only workers to find high aluminum levels in human milk are Coni et al. (12) and Mandic et al. (19), who reported means of 167 µg/l and 380 µg/l, respectively.
In general, trace element concentrations in human milk decline with time after birth. This pattern was observed in the present study (colostrum mean, 25.7 µg/l; intermediate-stage mean, 23.3 µg/l; mature-stage mean, 21.6 µg/l), although the differences in question were not statistically significant. In 1983, Feeley et al. (20) reported that aluminum levels were higher in early and intermediate human milk than in late milk. However, Tanaka et al. (14) found no significant difference between milk samples taken 1 week and 1 month after birth.
In the present study, the mean aluminum content in commercially available cow's milk (70.1 µg/l) was about 3 times higher than in human milk. UHT milk had a higher aluminum content (mean, 73.5 µg/l) than pasteurized milk (mean, 49.8 µg/l). These differences were probably caused by the sterilization procedure, because in the preparation of UHT milk some polyphosphates are added as a stabilizer. The product used in several milks studied was the Turrisin ST (BK Giulini Chemie GmbH Co. OAG, Ladenburg, Germany), and the aluminum level found in this product was 31 µg/g (n = 11, mean, 31.0 ± 1.2 µg/g). This amount produced an increase of 31 µg/l (Fig. 3). Previous studies have reported mean aluminum contents of 27 µg/l (15), 40 µg/l (18), and 95 µg/l (21) in pasteurized cow's milk.
We did not detect significant effects of packaging on aluminum content in commercially available cow's milk, although packaging materials with high aluminum content can clearly be expected to have such effects (22). Previous investigators have indicated that aluminum levels in bottled albumin for perfusion are affected by the aluminum content of the glass (23).
Similarly, we did not detect a significant variation in aluminum content in whole, semi-skim, and skim cow's milk. However, aluminum content was markedly higher in vegetable-fat milks (mean, 152 µg/l), possibly because of the relatively high aluminum contents of the vegetable oils used.
As in previous studies, we found aluminum content to be highest in infant formulas: Depending on the manufacturer, mean aluminum content was between 3 and 23 times higher than in human milk and up to 8 times higher than in cow's milk. If we assume daily milk ingestion of 200 ml/kg, the mean value determined in the present study (225.9 µg/l) implies a daily aluminum intake of approximately 0.045 mg/kg per day, considerably lower than the provisional World Health Organization-recommended daily maximum intake of 1 mg/kg per day (24). Indeed, even considering the very high aluminum content in one of the infant formulas milk samples (1149 µg/l), daily aluminum intake would still only be approximately 0.23 mg/kg per day. Nevertheless, it is clearly appropriate to take a conservative approach when estimating maximum permissible daily intake.
Our results regarding aluminum contents in infants formulas are almost in agreement with those of previous studies (12,16,21,25-27). However, mean aluminum contents were particularly high in the Blemil, Adapta, and Modar milks (see Table 5). We thus investigated whether this might be because of contamination during packaging of the product. However, we detected no significant difference in aluminum contents before and after packaging in these milks (results not shown). We then attempted to identify the components of the milk responsible for the high aluminum content. The results (Table 7) show that the fat concentrate, lactose, and mineral mix all made a major contribution, and that total aluminum content in the finished product could be reduced by 72% by replacing these components with low-aluminum equivalents.
TABLE 7:
Mean aluminum contents in the components used by one manufacturer of the continuation formulas
Formula milks prepared in the infant-feeding unit of our hospital and ready-to-use formula milks had higher aluminum concentrations than milk prepared with aluminum-free water under laboratory conditions. In the case of milk prepared in the infant-feeding unit, this appears to have been largely because of the high aluminum content of the tap water (see Fig. 2). Similar results were obtained by Semmekrot et al., (16) who found that aluminum concentration in formula milk prepared under noncontrolled conditions was 3 to 100 times that in milk prepared with aluminum-free water under laboratory conditions.
In conclusion, the results of the present study support the recommendations of the Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics (17) regarding the need for infant formula manufacturers to strive to reduce aluminum concentration in their products and the desirability of printing the maximum aluminum content on the package, stating the possible dangers particularly in nursing infants with renal insufficiency or other in disorders or characteristics that might favor accumulation of this element.

REFERENCES​

1. Alfrey AC. The physiology of aluminum in man. In: Gitelman HJ, ed. Aluminum and health.New York: Marcel Dekker, 1989;101-24.

• Cited Here

2. Bishop NJ, Robinson MJ, Lendon M, Hewitt CD, Day JP. Increased concentration of aluminum in the brain of a parenterally fed preterm infant. Arch Dis Child1989;64:1316-7.

• Cited Here |
• PubMed | CrossRef

 

[gringott]

I am pretty sure aluminum is bad to eat or have injected, or wipe on your underarms to prevent sweating. Thought this was common knowledge.

 

[the_shootist]

I am pretty sure aluminum is bad to eat or have injected, or wipe on your underarms to prevent sweating. Thought this was common knowledge.

moo

 

[Wellsburg]

They are spraying microscopic aluminum, strontium, barium, and other stuff out of airplanes.
We call them chemtrails.
They call it geoengineering and solar mitigation.

This stuff is in all of our food and we breathe it.

 

[Goldhedge]

Cow's milk is the perfect food for babies... calfs that is....

Maybe the gov't wants to keep them mentally stunted?

The only solution to this formula is to have less babies....

 

[UcoOnca]

FDA Flexibilities to Yield Millions of Cans of Additional Infant Formula in Coming Months to Increase Supply Available to U.S. Consumers

FDA Flexibilities to Yield Millions of Cans of Additional Infant Formula in Coming Months to Increase Supply Available to U.S. Consumers

FDA is providing an update on steps it has taken that will lead to millions of cans of additional infant and specialty formula being available in the U.S.

www.fda.gov

Able Groupe Recalling Products Labeled as Infant Formula Formulas Have Insufficient Iron Levels as Per Requirements for Infant Formula in The U.S., and Products Do Not Meet Other FDA Requirements

Able Groupe announced today it is recalling certain products used as infant formulas. The recalled products are infant formulas (i.e., products intended as a complete or partial substitute for human milk for children 12 months old and younger), but the required pre-market notifications for these new

www.fda.gov

 

[<SLV>]

Boob juice. Trust the science.