6 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Formula

6 Toxic Ingredients to Avoid in Baby Formula

February 8, 2023

You may believe that all baby formula is safe. They have, after all, been approved by the Food And Drug Administration (FDA). 

However, the FDA allows known toxic ingredients into food. They do this because a small level of toxins shouldn’t be enough to harm you or your baby. 

But if your baby ends up drinking lots of these infected formulas, they could ingest too many toxins. This could lead to poisoning and harm your baby’s development.

If you believe your baby’s formula has been mislabeled, suggesting you can feed more to your child than is safe, you should contact TruLaw. They can let you know if you have a case, and how they have dealt with similar claims in the past.

These are the 6 ingredients you should be aware of.

Metals

Metals include lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and more. They are naturally found in soil, but if too much is digested it can affect your cell chemistry.

They bind to your cells and prevent them from completing their tasks. The metal can easily block organs. If too much is digested your immune system cannot remove these toxins. Instead, your child could develop blood poisoning. This could lead to permanent organ damage.

Mineral Oils

Recent studies have shown how mineral oils are connected to dehydration in babies. If your formula uses aromatic mineral oils or mineral oil hydrocarbons, then they will be affected.

The most common form of mineral oil contamination is through the use of alkaline water. Alkaline water has become popular in recent years, as people try to digest more zinc. However, in babies, this will cause diarrhea and prevent them from absorbing nutrients. 

This, in turn, dehydrates the kids and prevents them from developing a quick recovery.

Melamine

Melamine is a type of nitrogen compound. It’s a natural preserving chemical, which makes it seem healthy. However, melamine is usually used by manufacturers to create furniture or crockery. 

Melamine is critical in the creation of plastic. In America, dairy cows are often drugged with melamine in an attempt to boost their milk production. Although the method works, it means milk produced in this way will have melamine in each carton.

The FDA says that the residual amount is too small to be toxic, but if your child was drinking these cartons every day, the volume of melamine will build up.

Soy

Soy milk used to be a great substitute for babies that couldn’t drink cow’s milk. However, it was considered great because it was the only alternative.

Nowadays there are tons of options available to you. Oat milk is the best choice because it’s gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free. It’s also extremely filling.

Soy milk has a lot of phytic acids, genistein, and phytoestrogens. Digesting too many of these compounds will block your baby’s hormone development. In adults, this isn’t a problem, but in children or people with unbalanced hormones, the blockage can cause developmental problems in skin repair and puberty development. 

Gluten

Babies cannot digest gluten. In their first year of life, their digestive system is sensitive. Eating the wrong foods can lead to constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In dramatic cases, it can even lead to long-term health issues such as intolerance.

Many baby foods include wheat and bread. They usually suggest an age range of 2 years and up. Stick to this age range and avoid gluten-based foods for any children under 1.

Sulfur Dioxide

Sulfur Dioxide or “Additives” are another name for preservatives. They are used to help your formula last longer. However, preservatives aren’t natural, and because they aren’t natural, they can lead to some hefty side effects.

Most child allergies are connected to sulfur dioxide. If you notice your baby is reacting to almost every type of formula you are using, it could be the preservatives themselves causing the problem. You’ll want to look for ways to help kids eye allergies if your child suffers from eye allergies.

Your child’s body could be trying to reject the toxins, and in doing so flag allergies in the process. Soon your infant’s body will assume all milk is a toxin, misunderstanding the preservative as the real foreign element.

Final Thoughts

There are more toxic ingredients you should be aware of, such as faux iron, sugar, GMO, and synthetic ingredients, but the 6 above are the most common and most dangerous.

The exception is GMO. Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMOs) are illegal in most countries because it’s connected to cancer and organ failure. America is still allowing this ingredient due to profit margins.

Remember that many companies put profit above all ease.

Brenda Kimble is an entrepreneur, a freelance journalist and a mother of 2 daughters and a son, plus their beagle named Duke! She loves blogging, crafting, and spending time with her family.