The Food and Drug Administration issued a new warning advising parents and caregivers not to use homemade infant formulas.
The official warning comes after the agency received reports of “hospitalized infants suffering from hypocalcemia (low calcium) who were fed homemade baby food.” They did not provide further details about the disease.
Infant formulas are strictly regulated by the FDA and may be the only source of nutrition for young infants. Because of this, the agency has requirements for certain nutrients to fall within a certain range.
The FDA does not recommend that parents and caregivers make infant formulas at home because of serious health and safety issues. Potential problems with homemade formulas include contamination and the absence or inadequate amounts of critical nutrients, ”the agency said in its warning.
They remind parents and caregivers that the potential consequences of feeding children infant formula may include nutritional imbalances or foodborne illness, both of which can be life-threatening for young children.