The US Food and Drug Administration published a warning letter on its website to Nestle, the maker of Good Start infant formula.
The letter stated that a recent FDA analysis of the infant formula found less than required levels of two important minerals, calcium and phosphorus.
Both calcium and phosphorus are important for proper development of the bones in growing children. They are also involved in other metabolic reactions in the body.
Nestle conducts its own internal analysis of its products and has found no lack of nutrients in any of the samples of Good Start formula.
The warning letter from the FDA is just that. It is not a call for alarm, nor does the manufacturer need to pull products from shelves. Consumers should not be afraid that their children are not receiving adequate nutrition.
The primary motivation is to encourage the producer to re-analyze the product and insure that correct levels of all nutrients are acheived.
The FDA publishes many warning letters to producers of foods and supplements each month. These can be reviewed at their website. Most letters accomplish the changes necessary to right the wrong, only in rare cases will products be pulled or producers fined as a result of non-compliance.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on December 13, 2006 12:23 PM
