The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they have launched a review of nutrients in infant formula.
The development marks the first comprehensive review of formula since 1998.
“Operation Stork Speed brings radical transparency to ingredients in infant formula and puts science front and center,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Every child has a fundamental right to a healthy start. We’re giving parents the truth and the tools to make that happen. You can’t Make America Healthy Again if we don’t fix what nourishes our youngest and most vulnerable.”
FDA Commissioner Martin A. Makary stated that protecting the nation’s “most vulnerable is not just a moral duty—it is our responsibility.”
“For many children, infant formula is their only source of nutrition. That’s why it’s absolutely crucial to continually assess the nutrition standards and incorporate gold standard science to ensure we are providing the safest, most effective nutrition possible,” he said.
Operation Stork Speed launched in March, targeting nutrient evaluation, testing, and innovation in infant formulas.
“The FDA will use all resources and authorities at its disposal to make sure infant formula products are safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them,” Kennedy said upon launching the initiative.
In 2022, the U.S. faced a significant infant formula shortage, primarily due to a recall and safety shutdown at an Abbott Laboratories facility in Sturgis, Michigan. The incident exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain and highlighted the need for more robust safety measures.
