USDA Calls For Removal Of DHA/ARA From Organic Formula

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Three Cheers For Breastfeeding!

Weighing In On Obesity Protection

by Heidi Green
May 23, 2010

Natural. Pure. Wholesome. Good. Those are the words that come to mind when I see the “USDA organic” seal. At a time when we are all more mindful of the dangers of pesticides and chemicals in the foods we eat, it’s reassuring to see the small green-and-white emblem that means you don’t need to worry–this product is natural and good for you.

However, a recent ban of synthetic fats commonly found in some organic products raises serious questions about such thinking. A statement on the ban was recently issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and will impact infant formula and other foods that contain the synthetic additives widely known as DHA and ARA. As reported by the Washington Post last year and last month, these synthetic oils were added to a list of non-organic ingredients allowed into organic products through a decision by a Bush administration official after discussion with a formula industry lobbyist and over the objections of several USDA employees who had determined such action a violation of federal standards. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and organics expert Kathleen Merrigan acknowledges that the synthetic oils should not be allowed in organic foods. New guidelines will be developed by the USDA. The process will include a 60-day period for public comment, and could take a year or longer.

What does this mean for parents?
The changes that result from the USDA’s decision may be noticed first by parents who feed their children formula, since the synthetic oils currently are added to nearly all infant formulas. In fact, except for some prescription formulas, the Cornucopia Institute notes that “only one over-the-counter formula is available without synthetic DHA/ARA.” Every other formula on the market includes them. The USDA’s decision ensures that more infant formulas will be available without DHA and ARA.

While the USDA does not, in its statement, challenge the safety of the additives, others do. For years, the Cornucopia Institute and the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy (NABA) have questioned the appropriateness and safety of adding these substances to infant formula and other foods.

Its report, “Replacing Mother – Imitating Human Breast Milk in the Laboratory,” is an examination of the synthetic oils from production to inclusion in formula, a caution about reports of side effects experienced by infants who consume them, and a look at relevant federal policies.

Why include DHA/ARA in formula?
DHA and ARA are polyunsaturated fats naturally found in human milk. In recent years, these fatty acids have received heightened attention in both the laboratory and the media as a result of ongoing controversy about healthy levels of fish intake for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Authorities have agreed that the fatty acids are important for brain, neural, and eye development; as discussion turned to how much DHA and ARA pregnant and breastfeeding women should consume for their infants’ health, formula companies saw a marketing opportunity. If they included synthetic versions of these oils (manufactured under the names DHASCO and ARASCO) in infant formula, the companies could assuage parents’ concerns about their baby’s development while suggesting that formula is “as close as ever to breast milk.” As noted in a Martek investment promotion from 1996 (and quoted in the Cornucopia Institute’s report), “Even if [the DHA/ARA blend] has no benefit, we think it would be widely incorporated into formulas, as a marketing tool and to allow companies to promote their formula as ‘closest to human milk.’”

In fact, leading formula manufacturer Mead Johnson admits on its Enfamil website that numerous scientific studies have shown little or no benefit to infant development, lending support to the theory that inclusion of these oils is just a marketing gimmick—much like the inclusion of prebiotics.

Unfortunately, it seems to be an effective gimmick. The percentage of people who agreed that “infant formula and breastfeeding are equally good ways of feeding an infant” doubled from 12 percent to 24 percent between 2003 and 2004, when the formula companies began advertising their supplemented formulas.

What is the cause for concern?
There are several causes for concern about the synthetic DHA and ARA added to formula and other foods and beverages.

First, parents should be aware that even though their infant formula may be labeled “USDA organic,” the process by which these additives are made is about as far from natural as possible. Martek Biosciences Corporation, extracts the oils from fermented algae and fungus with the use of a synthetic solvent hexane, a neurotoxic chemical. It’s possible that hexane residues evaporate before the oils are consumed, but according to the Cornucopia Institute’s report, tests have shown that hexane residues do appear in some edible oils. We don’t know the effects of hexane on health, but organics experts feel that the process would cause the National Organics Standards Board to deny the inclusion of these synthetic fats on the list of allowable additives to organic foods. Fats produced in this way hardly sound like the sorts of things parents who are shopping organic want to feed their children.

Second, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not affirmed the safety of the synthetic oils, noting that “[s]ome studies have reported unexpected deaths among infants who consumed formula supplemented with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids … attributed to SIDS, sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis. Also, some studies have reported adverse events and other morbidities including diarrhea, flatulence, jaundice, and apnea in infants fed long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.”

Unlike the natural DHA and ARA in breast milk, many infants are unable to digest the synthetic oils. The FDA has received what NABA Executive Director Marsha Walker calls “scores of reports on the adverse effects of these ingredients,” in which infants experience gastrointestinal symptoms ranging in severity from vomiting and diarrhea that cleared up when the baby switched to a non-DHA/ARA formula to severe dehydration and seizures that required hospitalization. Still, infant formula manufacturers have resisted calls for the addition of “warning labels” to product packages. As a result, parents cannot make informed decisions about the risks of DHA/ARA formula relative to other feeding options, and they often don’t know that their children’s health problems can be solved by switching to a formula without these additives.

Recommendations
What can parents do?

Be aware of the risks. If you are feeding your child a formula that contains DHA and ARA, keep an eye out for possible gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting or diarrhea. If the symptoms persist, talk with your baby’s doctor about switching to another formula, but know that there are few DHA/ARA-free formulas available.

Report adverse effects. Be sure to tell your child’s pediatrician about any problems. Also, enter your experience into the FDA’s Adverse Events Reporting System.

Share information with other parents. Across the board, parents whose children experience adverse effects of the formula say they had no idea that could be the cause. Until the FDA decides to require warning labels we can spread the word to other parents, so they can be aware too.

Contact policymakers. The USDA will have a 60-day public comment period before it issues its final guidelines about the inclusion of additives in organic infant formula. Let the USDA’s decision makers know what you think on this topic. In addition, leading DHA/ARA manufacturer Martek Biosciences has already indicated that it will petition the National Organic Standards Board to allow the fatty acids into organic food.

Contact formula and food manufacturers. Tell them you purchase only products that do not include these synthetic fats. If your family members have suffered side effects from the ingestion, talk about that; if you object to the manufacturing process, explain that. Since companies want to manufacture products that will sell, they should listen to consumer feedback.

Breastfeed! If you want to provide your baby with DHA and ARA, there is no safer way than from human milk.

http://www.BreastfeedingwithComfortandJoy.com Laura Keegan

Thank you for this informative article.
jessica

good article but why even mention bush… name the person outright who did it…
Leslie

Under “Recommendations”….Breastfeeding should be at the top of the list, not the bottom. It is all too common a reminder that we should not be lulled into a false sense of security by the formula companies. This wouldn’t even be a problem if 1. women would do what was best for their children and breastfeed and 2. formula was available by prescription only…that way, it wouldn’t be so easy for women to shirk their responsibility for doing what is right for their child. 3. women would receive support and encouragement to be able to successfully breastfeed…even if/when they experience obstacles.
Lisa

Sadly, Leslie not all women are lucky enough to breastfeed. I am one of them. I could only produce milk from one breast so I had to supplement with formula. I have been religiously breastfeeding but my milk is not coming in enough to make enough to give my daughter enough sustenance. I have done everything I can and am forced to use formula.

I was also formula-fed as most adopted babies still are. I do understand how you feel. I believe breast milk is best in most cases but I see no reason for there is be a prescription for formula. I can already see people being denied formula because they are on the wrong insurance plan.
D

If you think “Natural. Pure. Wholesome. Good.” when seeing the USDA organic seal, then you’re a grossly uninformed consumer of what you put into your body and should not be charged with writing an article informing other people about their infant’s nutrition. Stamping something “USDA Organic” still means pesticides were used on your food.

Educate yourself before attempting to do so with others: http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2010/01/10/usda-organic-20-years-later/
Heather

Thank you Lisa! I too was unable to breastfeed. I produced only a small amount of milk and had to supplement with formula until my milk production shut down when my son was 5 months old. I had every intention to breastfeed but my body did not comply. This is important information and parents should know what they are buying. If there is non-organic ingredients the label should clearly state what is and what is not sourced organic-ly.
Cristie

Thank you Lisa! My child is adopted and therefore we used formula. Making formula prescription only is not a good idea in my opinion. My child had no adverse effects from being on formula and actually is very healthy.
Heidi Green

It’s clear this is an important issue to all of us, and I’m glad to be able to respond to your concerns and feedback.

Laura, you’re welcome! I’m glad to see the USDA and FDA paying attention to this topic.

Jessica, an earlier draft of the article did name the person. I edited it for brevity. The line was better in its original form, probably; mentioning the Bush administration gave a general sense of when it happened & also conveys the sense that the person is not currently in government. For clarity, here is that line: “…these synthetic oils were added to a list of nonorganic ingredients allowed into organic products through a decision by Bush administration official Dr. Barbara Robinson, over the objections of several USDA employees who had determined such action a violation of federal standards. ” Thanks for your concerns.

Leslie, I agree that women who breastfeed will not have this problem. But, as Lisa, Heather and Cristie point out, there are women for whom that is not an option, and the article seems most relevant to women who are formula-feeding now.

D, thanks for the link. We here at babygooroo like to provide a variety of resources for our community of parents. As you know the USDA Organic label was intended to indicate that the labelled food was produced and processed according to the USDA standards and that at least 95% of its ingredients are organically produced. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/nu00255) I think there are a lot of people who have typically believed that to be the case. While I have known there was some slippage in that and a lack of rigorous monitoring, I admit it: I like to think that the USDA Organic label would mean something. The alternative–no labels, no indications of organic ingredients (or not) on packages–doesn’t seem better.
Now, the label has lost consumer confidence with good reason, not the least of which is this practice with DHA/ARA and similar additives. We do need to be thoughtful consumers and learn about our foods. But I applaud the USDA for making an effort to return some meaning to the USDA Organic label.

Heather, I absolutely agree! Clarity in labeling is what I want to know. But no company would ever write out “This product has additives that were made through a process that involves the neurotoxin hexane” on its label, and I’m not sure how we get the level of clarity we all want for the foods we feed ourselves, our partners, and especially our children.
Kristi

Are there any alternative reccommendations (DHA ARA free formulas, or formulas with the SAFE dha ara additives??)
Heidi Green

Hi, Kristi, The best alternative seems to be formulas without added DHA/ARA. Store brands are often less expensive and therefore less likely to have the additives.
Jenn

While I breastfeed, the implications of this article shock me beyond formula. Just yesterday, my husband and I were discussing whether or not to buy organic whole milk with DHA. Now that we’ve seen this article, we most certainly will not buy the milk with DHA added. Thank you for bringing this to light so that we can make informed choices.
http://www.sweeterhours.blogspot.com holly

Thank you for this article. Very informative.

I too breastfed but it was not easy. My milk didn’t come in on time and we used formula to supplement. I am blessed that the issue corrected itself. I am thankful that formula was there when I needed it and that it is there for many women who need to feed their babies.

Ah hexane, it’s in way too many things…
Alora’s Parents

This is a great article and confirmed what we already felt about Martek’s DHA/ARA additives. Our daughter was born a month ago and we had every intention of breastfeeding exclusively, but sadly it turned out that the milk supply was not enough. So in a matter of days, we were forced to look into infant formulas when it was not something we had previously given any thought to. We knew we wanted to give our daughter an organic formula, which left us with two store-bought choices: Earth’s Best, and Baby’s Only. At first, Earth’s Best seemed like the better choice because it was “fortified” with DHA and ARA, and Baby’s Only was not. (we had already heard the hype about the benefits of these fatty acids). But upon further research, we discovered how the DHA and ARA were extracted, and did not feel that that would be healthy for our baby. After weeks of research here is our recommendation:

(Please double check these statements with a Pediatrician or a Lactation Consultant. We are neither, and do not claim to be better informed than health professionals. This is simply what we have decided to do for our family.)

1. We use Baby’s Only organic formula. It is made by a company called Nature’s One. It is organic, uses non-GMO ingredients, and is made in the USA. It is marketed as a “toddler formula” because the company strongly encourages breast feeding. However the formula complies with the Infant Formula Act, and is safe to feed to infants. You can see brand by brand nutritional comparisons on their website.

2. Baby’s Only does not use DHA/ARA additives in their formula, for many of the same concerns that this article expresses. They do, however, sell a DHA/ARA supplement which can be added to the formula. Their DHA and ARA is extracted from egg yolks using a natural water process. This product is free of Hexane, and other synthetic oils.

3. For better digestion, and so our formula is more like “living” breast milk- we use a probiotic supplement. There are many of these on the market containing different numbers of different “friendly” bacteria to help your baby’s gastrointestinal tract. The most important thing to look for is for the supplement to contain “Bifidobacteria”, of which there are several kinds. The most important is “Bifidobacterium infantis”, which is found in breast milk and seems to help our baby digest her formula even better.

So far, one month in, we have had great success with this system. Our baby is healthy and appears to be thriving. However, every baby is different and has different needs. What we believe is important is for every parent to make a concerned effort to only put the best into their baby. Whether it’s breast milk or formula, if it’s fed to your baby with intention and love, we feel a baby will thrive that way.

Good luck and many blessings everybody! We are open to any suggestions and new information. We have only been at this for a month and are continually learning!
http://happyrain.org/ Emily

Thank you for this article. Very informative.

I too breastfed but it was not easy. My milk didn’t come in on time and we used formula to supplement. I am blessed that the issue corrected itself. I am thankful that formula was there when I needed it and that it is there for many women who need to feed their babies.

Ah hexane, it’s in way too many things…
DC

Let’s see…you were supplementing during nursing, and your milk dried up. Of course it did, you removed the demand for milk. Supplementing almost always results in decreased milk production. Yes, sometimes there are issues with milk supply, but supplementing almost always makes it worse, not better. There are many other things that can be done (and have been done for thousands of years) to increase milk supply.

Requiring a prescription doesn’t deny formula to anyone who TRULY needs it (ie: adoptive parents), it does however require that breastfeeding is tried, is the norm, and that women must try to breastfeed and get support for struggles. It also ensures that women don’t “just decide” to formula feed rather than nurse. It ensures that breastfeeding is given the natural, important priority it should have. Formula shouldn’t be available to just anyone who wants it. But, it should be available to those who NEED it, and many who THINK they need it, really don’t. There are many many things that can and should be done to ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship.

Many moms say their kid was formula fed and is just fine. But how many colds have those kids had, how many of them end up w/ serious diseases in adulthood? We have epidemic levels of many diseases and people with compromised immune systems because they weren’t breastfed and weren’t given good nutrition via breastfeeding. Many studies have linked lack of breastfeeding to a whole host of adult diseases.
http://www.babygooroo.com Heidi Green

DC, thanks for joining in the conversation. It’s certainly true that breastfeeding is a “supply and demand” process, and that the body makes more milk in response to the baby feeding at the breast. It’s a shame that so many women don’t get the breastfeeding support they need from their health care providers. (For example, the mention of not having enough milk during the first few days make me wonder why the providers didn’t encourage the moms to keep putting their babies to the breast at the same time reminding them that a full milk supply shouldn’t be expected for 5-10 days after birth. Too often first-time moms don’t know what to expect, especially given how few of today’s grandmothers breastfed.)

Supplementing with formula can be a stop-gap measure to ensure that the baby is fed while the mothers obtain the help they need, and it sounds like a few of these mothers were able to use small amounts of formula in that way. My own nursing crisis as a first-time mother came late at night when the pediatrician’s office was closed. The lactation center didn’t return my call for about 18 hours. Interestingly, my son rejected the formula I offered, we overcame our hurdles and went on to breastfeed for many months—but I would’ve been relieved if he’d taken the formula that night, until I could get the help I needed.

You know, what’s most interesting to me is the idea that we could (or even should) compel mothers to breastfeed. It seems to me that’s just the flip-side of the patronizing stance taken by many formula makers and pro-formula health care providers: compelling mothers to formula-feed. I’m not comfortable with their tactics, and—as much as I want every mother who can, to breastfeed—the fact is that we certainly can’t (and shouldn’t) force them to do so. Mothers do have rights to their own bodies. Unfortunate as it is, many mothers choose to supplement or formula-feed for a variety of reasons such as their own health, history of sexual abuse, lack of support from partners and/or health care providers, workplace demands, etc.). Shaming them, blaming them, and locking up the formula doesn’t help.

Instead, let’s keep working to remove the barriers to breastfeeding, and support mothers in doing so on a personal and community level–so that they can make that best choice for their babies.
http://fentpnsle.blogspot.com Slee

There are at least two options not discussed in this article which may be worth considering for those who can not breastfeed–using donor milk or making your own formula. Just as we don’t have to turn to Stouffers to make our lasagna, we don’t have to turn to Mead Johnson for formula. One could make their own. But before going that route, one could also see about acquiring donor milk for their baby, so that even a baby adopted by men can enjoy the health benefits of breast milk.
http://www.babygooroo.com Amy Spangler

Slee, thank you for your suggestions. In my experience, the cost of donor milk for many parents (whether same sex or opposite sex) is often prohibitive, but is certainly worth investigating. The Human Milk Banking Association of North America is your best resource. As for making your own baby formula, careful consideration must be given to nutrition and safety. Producing a breast milk substitute that is nutritionally balanced–one that meets all of your baby’s nutritional needs and is free of harmful bacteria is possible but challenging. While some parents pursue this option, you need all the necessary ingredients mixed at just the right temperature–so caution is advised.
Chuck Dalehouse

My wife tried to exclusively breast feed for the first 2 weeks after birth, but she just didn’t produce enough to nourish the baby. After the 1 week checkup, the doctor was worried that the baby not gaining any weight and scheduled another appointment a few days later to see how things were going. The baby cried a lot the first 2 weeks, but being new parents, we thought that was part of the experience. Turns out our baby was being way underfed because we were bombarded with the message to only breast feed at the hospital. Once we started formula feeding after 2 weeks, baby’s weight came back up to normal and she was happy with much less crying. Just another viewpoint saying that breastfeeding is not the only option for all newborns.
I am extremely shocked to hear about how DHA in formula is made from fungus and algae processed by the neurotoxin hexane! If I had known this before, would definitely have picked a formula without this abomination added. I hate you Martek!!
Beeinformed

That’s why you MUST research, research, research. I knew about this Martek DHA issue back in 2006 when I was researching formulas when I was 5 months pregnant, just in case I needed to use formula at some point.

I ONLY gave my daughter Nature’s One “Baby’s Only” Formula, it was the only one on the market without DHA. 2006 was the year of the start of the DHA craze.
Sal Marciano

I received Similac Advance Early Shield nursette bottles at the hospital. We supplemented that along with breastmilk but realized that the breastmilk was not satisfying our newborn. After that ran out, we used the samples from Enfamil Premium Newborn and our baby took that too with no problem. After that was finished, we now have our baby on Good Start and so far its been working well.

Similac gave our baby too much gas. The Similac Sensitive produced too much foam and bubbles in the bottle so that did not help. The Enfamil made our baby have a bowel movement at almost every feeding (a few minutes after beginning a feeding…….we regularly heard a loud boooop! sound and it was poop). So far, Good Start is doing good for our newborn.

After reading this article, I am going to be going with Baby’s Only Organic. It seems like a better choice. However, I have only one question………why is organic brown rice syrup the first ingredient???? Why isnt whey protein the first ingredient???
http://www.babygooroo.com Amy Spangler

According to the manufacturer of Baby’s Only Organic…

“Regarding organic brown rice syrup and the order of ingredients, Nature’s One® lists Organic Brown Rice Syrup first in its ingredient declaration. This is because organic brown rice syrup represents the ingredient added to the formula with the highest weight. Per U.S. labeling requirements, ingredients must be listed on a label in descending order by weight. It may appear that Baby’s Only Organic® contains more carbohydrate than some other infant formulas due to the position of the ingredient on the label, but this is not true. In fact, other leading brands use the same level of carbohydrate, but they are adding additional lactose (a simple sugar) or other carbohydrates to the quantity of lactose that is naturally occurring from the cow’s milk in their formula. Therefore the ingredient “lactose” typically appears in the second position on their labels. Please note that naturally occurring ingredients are not declared on an ingredient statement; only added ingredients need to be declared. If you look at the total amount of carbohydrate in formulas, you will note that they are all similar. It will be the type of carbohydrate that usually differs and not the total amount of carbohydrate. Please review the following links which compare the nutrient composition of Baby’s Only Organic® formulas to other formulas on the market.

Dairy nutritional comparison: http://www.naturesone.com/documents/chart.pdf
Organic Dairy nutritional comparison: http://www.naturesone.com/documents/organic_chart.pdf
Soy nutritional comparison: http://www.naturesone.com/documents/chart_soy.pdf
Organic Soy nutritional comparison: http://www.naturesone.com/documents/soy_organic_chart.pdf
Lactose Free nutritional comparison: http://www.naturesone.com/documents/lactose-free_chart.pdf

We selected organic brown rice syrup to add to our formula to bring the carbohydrate level to the required amount versus other carbohydrates such as lactose, sucrose (table sugar) or corn syrup because rice is one of the first solid foods introduced to a toddler. Rice is also considered hypoallergenic. We chose not to add additional lactose to Baby’s Only Organic® Dairy Formula because some infants may not be able to digest large amounts of this milk-sugar which can cause gassiness, bloating and a very unhappy baby.”
Pilm

Amy S, thanks for the post. I had always wondered why some baby formula listed 3 different types of sugars, but now I know, they use separate kinds of sugars so their weight is less than the milk product (e.g., whey), thus giving the appearance that the milk product is the biggest ingredient, yet if you total up all the sugars they are the biggest component. So it appears Baby’s Only is just being more up front with folks then the baby formula companies with the slick marketing departments.
http://babygooroo.com/2011/03/what-women-think-about-formula-labels-the-fda-aims-to-find-out/ Formula Labels | baby gooroo

[...] Background Breastfeeding advocates have long argued that the marketing statements made by formula companies influence mothers’ infant feeding decisions, discouraging them from breastfeeding and prompting them to buy more expensive formulas. The independent think tank Cornucopia Institute expressed particular concern about the marketing of formula additives docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), a pair of manufactured fatty acids added to nearly all infant formulas currently on the market. (You can read more about the controversy here). [...]
Anonymous

Hi, been breastfeeding for 8 months and wanted to add formula as my milk reserves seem lower than before and was encouraged to buy Enfapro A+ made by Meade Johnson Nutrition. They promote DHA 17mg and ARA 34mg per serving and go on about it’s triple health guard benefits, quite outrageous really after reading your article. My baby girl, since taking this formula, about a week now, pukes up every night and is unusually hyper active and doesn’t sleep like she used too – I am sure what you say about DHA and ARA is the cause – so I am immeditaly taking her off it and I would say it disgusts me that this ‘shit’ can be put into baby foods!