Commissioner Irvin alerts Georgians to FDA advisory on infant formula from China

Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting Georgians to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory instructing caregivers not to feed infant formula manufactured in China to infants due to possible contamination.

“Do not feed Chinese manufactured formula to infants,” Commissioner Irvin said.  “Heed the advisory from FDA and use formula approved for sale in the United States.  Our inspectors will be assisting FDA in removing any of the formula found on store shelves in Georgia.”

It has been reported that a number of infants in China who have consumed Chinese manufactured infant formula are suffering from kidney stones, a condition which is rare in infants.  The Chinese manufactured infant formula may be contaminated with melamine. Melamine artificially increases the protein profile of milk and can causes kidney diseases such as those seen in these Chinese infants.

No manufacturer in China has been approved to sell infant formula in the United States, but FDA is concerned contaminated formula may be available in specialty markets in Asian communities.

FDA requires that all infant formula manufacturers register with the Agency and adhere to specific labeling and nutritional requirements.  All properly registered infant formula manufacturers marketing infant formula in the United States undergo an annual inspection of their production facilities.

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