Greens support stronger warnings on soy infant formula

Green Party MP Sue Kedgley said this morning that she was pleased the Health Select Committee is supporting stronger warning labels on soy infant formula and more parental education about the risks of feeding infants soy-based formulas.

In its report released today, the committee recommends that warning labels on soy infant formula be strengthened to point out that they have a high phytoestrogen content, which may pose a risk for the long term reproductive health of infants.

Ms Kedgley said it was vital that parents were made aware of research which indicates that soy infant formula floods the bloodstream with a high amount of phytoestrogens, or isoflavenes, which could affect the sexual development of infants, accelerating the sexual development of girls causing them to enter puberty earlier than usual, and retarding physical maturation in boys.

“Many parents switch to soy infant formulas thinking they are a safer alternative to cows-milk formulas, and are completely unaware of the risks they may pose.

“I fed my own baby soy-milk for a short time, completely unaware of the risks,” Ms Kedgley said. “I am therefore keen that other parents are fully informed before they give soy infant formula to infants.”

Ms Kedgley said some scientists estimate that the amount of phytoestrogens that are in a day’s worth of soy infant formula is equivalent to five birth control pills.

Ms Kedgley said assessments of the effects of phytoestrogens in soy infant formulas, undertaken by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority in 1999, identified risks for babies in thyroid function and in early sexual maturation.

She said she was pleased that the Ministry of Health acknowledged those risks, and recommended that soy infant formulas only be used ‘where it is medically indicated.’

“Much more needs to be done, however, to educate parents about the risks, particularly by Plunket nurses, Well-Child providers and other health professionals with regular dealings with parents.”