As an industry, we agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading medical organizations that breast milk is the best form of infant nutrition. Infant formula is not in competition with breast milk–breast milk is the gold standard of optimal infant nutrition and cannot be replicated. Infant formula was developed to address a critical need for a safe and nutritious alternative when breast milk is not available or not chosen.
There seems to be confusion regarding the labeling of infant formula products. While not required, infant formula manufacturers already state on their product labels, and in their materials, that breast-feeding is recommended. There has been no legislation or regulation proposed that would require a warning statement related to the safety of infant formula products.
Infant formula products are complete and nutritious foods. In fact, iron-fortified infant formula is the only safe, effective and recommended alternative to breast milk, providing complete nutrition to meet the unique needs of growing infants. The U.S. government currently makes free infant formula available to more than half of the infants born annually in the U.S. through the WIC program, which serves some of the most vulnerable infants at nutritional risk in our country.
