10 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Formula

Breastfeeding provides a multitude of health benefits for both babies and their mothers, but not everybody is able to or wants to breastfeed.

When breastfeeding is a challenge for one reason or another, and is not available, baby formula can step in as an alternative to mother’s milk.

Unfortunately, in America good infant formula is extremely hard to come by because of toxic ingredients that are allowed by the FDA. Knowing which ingredients are harmful and their effects is an important step to finding nutrition that is pure and as close to breastmilk as possible.

In the United States, recent studies found that many popular baby food products contain a surprisingly high amount of dangerous heavy metals—including arsenic, cadmium, and lead.

These heavy metals are found naturally in all soil but without proper regulations these toxins go unfiltered and can be harmful to the development of a baby.

Heavy metals have been especially linked to effects on the developing infant mind, brain, cardiovascular system, and immune system.

Over 300,000 infants have been victims of Melamine overdosed baby formula. Melamine is rich in nitrogen and widely used in processing of plastics and adhesives.

In America, melamine is used to spike milk production in dairy cows. This milk is then found in formula with the toxin attached. The FDA justifies this use saying that the levels are extremely low.

When a milk protein allergy or sensitivity occurs in infants, parents tend to avoid the milk-based formula and choose a soy-based baby formula. With exception of medical urgency, soy formula is not recommended.

The reason soy formula should be used only as a last resort is three fold: phytoestrogens, phytic acid and genistein. These compounds can flood the infants with hormones, block important nutrients, and can create long term implications like developmental problems during puberty for boys and early adolescence for girls.

Gluten is a type of bread-based grain protein. It’s found in many foods, including rye, wheat, barley, and some breads and snacks.

Within the first year, babies' digestive systems cannot tolerate the harsh gluten protein and it can lead to severe constipation, abdominal pain, and for up to 6% of the population long term health problems.

Contamination of infant formula by aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons has been in the news recently.

Used in production, this high alkaline mixture can cause diarrhea, poor absorption of nutrients, and dehydration in infants.

Preservatives are used to keep baby formula from spoiling so it will have a longer shelf life. Nothing about preservatives is natural, and it has been known to aggravate food allergies in infants.

You may see preservatives by the names sulfur dioxide and “additives” on baby formula cans, so read your baby formula package carefully.

Best-known for treating anemia, this mineral can be found naturally. Iron is great to have as an ingredient in baby formula, but faux iron is not. This electrolyte is often found in fortified powder form.

Faux iron is under regulated and over used in American baby formulas. Regular ingestion can cause digestive worries at the least and long term cardiovascular problems on the other end.

These highly addictive ingredients are almost unavoidable in most of American baby formulas. Some research suggests the sugar content in American baby formula may be as high as that found in sugary soft drinks.

Corn syrup, sometimes known as glucose syrup, contains mostly corn starch. Like sugar, it’s high in carbohydrates and calories and has very little nutritional value.

Infants that consume sugar or corn syrup regularly risk a lifetime of health problems. These sugars have been associated with the development of many diseases and medical conditions including heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes.

Countries around the world are passing laws against GMOs and many of the regulations have specifically targeted infant nutrition. America has been slow to follow.

GMOs have been associated with cancer, organ failure, and birth defects.

American formula is laden with synthetic nutrients. These synthetic ingredients are neurotoxic and processed with harmful chemicals that are known carcinogens.

Common toxic ingredients labeled as so called nutrients, are lycopene, lutein, taurine, L-methionine and nucleotides. To be clear, these ingredients can come from natural sources or be created in a lab; this is why it is important to ask where the source of each ingredient is if you do see them inside your baby formulas or baby foods. Infants given these cheap synthetic fillers are prone to suffer from chronic disease as they grow up.

With toxin ingredients in nearly all of American baby formulas, is it any wonder European baby formula has become so popular?

European infant nutrition regulations go above and beyond FDA guidelines. Strict rules and ordinance are put into place and frequently monitored to ensure the safety of European baby formulas.

European baby formulas are sourced from certified farms that take the entire ecosystem into consideration. Parents will never find pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or genetic modifications at any part of the process from planting to manufacturing.

What you will find is family owned and operated companies that put infant nutrition first. The organic ingredients in European baby formula nourishes your little one from head to toe.

European formulas are full of pure and simple ingredients that start with 100% grass fed milk and end with a formula as close to breast milk as possible.

During the first years of an infant's life, any exposure to toxins can make harmful changes in a baby’s development.

This is why our mission at My Organic Company is to work diligently to bring your family pure nutrition to support your little one's brain, eyes, immune system, and digestive system. We offer only the best natural ingredients, free of harmful components.