Complaint alleges unsafe chemical used in baby formula

Supplements in some baby formulas are prepared using a petrochemical that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in infants, a watchdog group for organic foods says.

By CHAO XIONG, Star Tribune

Last update: April 15, 2008 - 11:10 PM

A Wisconsin-based nonprofit food and farm policy group is demanding that the federal government crack down on the sale and labelling of products marketed as organic, including infant formula, that contain supplements extracted with a toxic solvent.

The Cornucopia Institute, an organic food watchdog organization, filed a legal complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, alleging that some formula and food manufacturers are using omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, DHA/ARA, that have caused vomiting and diarrhea in some infants. The supplements are extracted from algae and soil fungus using hexane, a neurotoxic petrochemical solvent, and are sold by Martek Biosciences Corp. of Columbia, Md.

"[Consumers] think they're getting something that's nutritionally superior and is safer for their children, and they're being exposed to these novel oils," said Cornucopia's executive director, Mark Kastel.

Martek spokeswoman Cassie France-Kelly dismissed the allegations.

"We take any threat or claim about the safety of our product very seriously," she said. "But it's not something we think is very credible."

Martek has sold the supplements for use in baby formula in Europe since the mid-1990s, she said. It first appeared in non-organic formula in the U.S. in 2002 and in organic formula in 2006. The company's supplements now appear in about 95 percent of all infant formula sold in the U.S.

Reports provided by the Food and Drug Administration, however, documented more than 100 incidents of infants on such formula suffering side effects, said Kastel and institute analyst Charlotte Vallaeys. Anecdotally, infants who were eventually given supplement-free formula improved, Vallaeys said.

It's unclear what percentage of infants react to formula containing the supplements, or what they're reacting to, Vallaeys said.

"I have three kids," France-Kelly said. "I don't know any baby that didn't experience diarrhea or vomiting in the first three months of their lives."

Supplemented formula is particularly appealing to consumers because it is marketed as a near-perfect substitute for breast milk, which naturally contains the fatty acids, Vallaeys said.

Martek promotes the supplements as important for brain and eye development.

"We have absolutely no concern about the use of DHA omega-3 in our product," said Sara Loveday, spokeswoman for Horizon Organic, which sells milk for kids and adults.

FDA spokeswoman Kimberly Rawlings said she had not seen the complaint.

"If there were any adverse events that were reported to the FDA, the FDA would look into them thoroughly and take the appropriate enforcement action," she said.

Staff writer Richard Meryhew contributed to this report. Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391

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