FDA Cracks Down on Contaminants in Baby Formula with New Initiative
The FDA has launched Operation Stork Speed, a new initiative to improve infant formula safety, increase testing for contaminants and ensure a steady supply for families.
By
Lana Pine
| Published on March 18, 2025
2 min read
Credit: Adobe Stock/Prostock-studio
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have launched Operation Stork Speed to improve the safety, quality and availability of infant formula.
“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,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Helping each family and child get off to the right start from birth is critical to our pursuit to Make America Healthy Again.”
The effort includes testing for heavy metals and other contaminants in both formula and other foods children eat and reviewing the nutritional content via a Request for Information. These updates represent the first comprehensive review of formulas by the FDA since 1998.
Companies are also encouraged to develop new infant formulas and create opportunities that will help consumers be more informed about ingredients. They plan to improve transparency in labeling by direct communication with companies, consumers and industry stakeholders. Additionally, the FDA will collaborate with the National Institutes of Health and others to further understand short- and long-term health outcomes linked to formula feeding in infancy and childhood.
The goal is to ensure that all families have access to safe, nutritious formula for their babies.
“The FDA is deeply committed to ensuring that moms and other caregivers of infants and young children and other individuals who rely on infant formula for their nutritional needs have confidence that these products are safe, consistently available, and contain the nutrients essential to promote health and well-being during critical stages of development and life,” added acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, M.D., MPH. “Whether breastfed, bottle-fed or both, the rising generation must be nourished in a way that promotes health and longevity over the course of their lives.”
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