Warnings for Synthetic Nutrients in Organic Baby Formulas

In a letter to the editor, Sound Consumer, May 2011 issue, for PCC Natural Market members in the Seattle area, a concerned grandmother asked about the issue of "synthetic nutrient additives" in organics, specifically the DHA and ARA added to the Earth's Best infant formula her grandson eats.

The PCC editor replied that, yes, PCC is submitting public coment to the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) on synthetic nutrients. The NOSB met for four days in Seattle in late April.

In the Sound Consumer article "Synthetic DHA and ARA in organics?," PCC Quality Standards Specialist Goldie Caughlan said that the NOSB Handling Committee proposed to allow synthetic additives in organic products without review as long as they qualify as nutrients.

What are these sythetic additives, DHA and ARA?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calls these additives "nutrient oils." The DHA is an omega-3 from algae. The ARA is an omega-6 from soil fungus. Both additives are extracted using petroleum-derived hexane solvent and other unapproved substances.

The National Organic Program (NOP) administrator of the USDA achknowledged that these additives are in organic products illegally.

Goldie Caughlan of PCC said: "What's especially objectionable is that these sythetic nutrient additives dominate all 'organic' baby formulas."

PCC does, however, provide Baby's One organic formula without these additives for 6 months and toddler.

For more info: PCC Recalls synthetic DHA and ARA

Do Babies Need DHA and ARA?

See also: Natural fatty acids vs. Synthetic: Do babies need DHA and ARA? Consumers see DHA and ARA advertised favorably on baby formula labels. Some doctors and scientists have suggested that these additives constitute an exciting breakthrough in infant formula development (they weren't in there before 2002). But what are DHA and ARA and do babies really need these ingredients?

Originally published on Examiner.com.