Moms who feed their babies organic formula are banking on the idea that "organic" means safer from toxins. That's the whole point, really. You're buying food that's supposed to be free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. And it's food for a baby, so moms who choose organic have those tiny, sensitive bodies in mind when they make that choice.
That's why it's so discouraging to learn that arsenic has been found in some brands of organic baby formula! Dartmouth researchers studied organic powdered baby formulas and found "dangerous amounts of arsenic" in formulas that listed brown rice syrup as a top ingredient. Not every mom can nurse, so for those who are trying to do their best with formula, this is scary news.
The formula with contaminated brown rice syrup was found to have arsenic levels up to six times the amount allowed by the FDA for drinking water. It's like the apple juice story all over again. The same team also found high levels of arsenic in brown rice syrup-sweetened cereal bars and energy bars.
Wouldn't you love to find out what brand of organic baby formula has the arsenic? Of course you would -- but the researchers are not revealing that information. ABC News found two with brown rice syrup as their primary ingredient: Baby's Only Organic Dairy Toddler Formula and Baby's Only Organic Soy Toddler Formula, both by Nature's One. But Nature's One says their brown rice syrup producer "uses qualified, world-renowned, third-party, independent lab to test arsenic levels in their organic brown rice syrup. Their testing results report undetectable amounts of arsenic at laboratory testing limits."
I don't know ... I think if I had a baby I was feeding formula, I'd be playing it safe right now and not using any with rice syrup at all -- until I found a little more information.
Does your baby's formula contain brown rice syrup? Are you worried about arsenic levels in formula?
Image via brokinhrt2/Flickr
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Comments 58
"Not every mom can nurse, so for those who are trying to do their best with formula, this is scary news."
Not every mom WANTS to nurse. Why must there always be a caveat? Cant you just say "this is scary for people who formula feed", without making it seem like its only scary for people who want to nurse but cant?
Wow ! I am sick with the fact that Baby's Only is the brand I used when my supply suddenly dried up at 6 months into nursing my third child. (I had hormone related issues not diagnosed til later.) I thought I was giving my daughter the best alternative possible. Being as the more popular brands are tainted with "acceptable" levels, (according to the FDA), of melamine. (The additive that killed all those babies in China).
Goodness, ladies. This is a big deal that they found arsenic in baby formula, lets not bicker at each other. This is a very scary situation and we should be more worried what brand of formula they found the arsenic in. This is very worrisome for everyone, not just nursing mothers, cause it's affecting the little ones who depend on those companies to be thourough in their work to support their immune system and help them grow.
It's not about how they word it, cause words done mean much. There is arsenic in the formula, people, that is what is the issue here, not how someone words a certain phrase. I don't mean to cause a stir, but we need to stop seeing just the words and see the statement that is talking about our child's lives could be in big trouble, even in danger, cause of this arsenic containment. I myself made sure that everything in my son's formula and other food doesn't have this syrup when I heard of this.
What's scary is that arsenic isn't just in formula but several products on the shelf including apple and grape juices. Dartmouth researchers were also looking at toddler cereal bars which contained it. The grocery store is full of arsenic. The researchers are bringing to light that products (even organic) absorb it naturally from the soil. Brown rice just being one item. We need to start looking into this, why is it happening and what can be done to regulate it.
Oh gosh this makes me just sick! I am so glad that I am able to nurse my almost six-month-old. What ever would I do if I couldn't? It just breaks my heart that this stuff keeps happening with formula. To all formula-feeding mommies out there, my heart goes out to you. Everyone deserves to be able to feed their baby SAFE food!