Ashleigh,
This particular fortifier is used as an example for patent # 6403349 in the
US Patent & Trademark Office. see http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html

 That patent is called, "Elongase gene and uses thereof," with the inventor
being Mukerji, et al. and the assignee Abbott Labs.  Yes, another example of
genetic engineering.  I believe that all the infant formulas, including the
human milk fortifiers are genetically engineered.  Obviously, the infant
formula industry, the FDA, and the biotechnologists view this new food
technology as safe.  They also believe that they can artificially make human
milk components that are identical to the real thing.

Whether that is possible is debatable.  The fact that this information is not
being given to the public suggests to me that those in charge of our food
system and the government are unwilling to be forthright and allow the
consumer the right to informed consent.  Perhaps, most Americans think it
perfectly fine to genetically engineer infant formulas.  I might be the only
one who wonders about the sanity of using a new technology on our most
vulnerable population without informed consent.

This new technology heralds some worrisome aspects for those of us who are
out promoting breastfeeding.  Since the FDA assumes that organisms that are
genetically engineered are identical to the natural organism, that will no
longer prevent the infant formula industry from saying that their formulas
are equivalent or close to human milk.  We are already witnessing consumers
making assumptions that the new formulas are just like breastmilk.

Although my real concern is that this new technology is an unknown--never
before in history have infants been given this kind of food.  We may see no
problems, we may see a few problems, or we may have a catastrophe on our
hands.  The problem is that very few babies around the world are exclusively
breastfed.  Thus this new technology is one vast experiment on a whole
generation of people.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

from patent # 6403349
"G. SIMILAC.RTM. Natural Care Low-Iron Human Milk Fortifier Ready To Use, 24
Cal/fl oz.

Usage: Designed to be mixed with human milk or to be fed alternatively with
human milk to low-birth-weight infants.

Ingredients: -D Water, nonfat milk, hydrolyzed cornstarch, lactose,
fractionated coconut oil (medium-chain triglycerides), whey protein
concentrate, soy oil, coconut oil, calcium phosphate tribasic, potassium
citrate, magnesium chloride, sodium citrate, ascorbic acid, calcium
carbonate, mono and diglycerides, soy lecithin, carrageenan, choline
chloride, m-inositol, taurine, niacinamide, L-carnitine, alpha tocopheryl
acetate, zinc sulfate, potassium chloride, calcium pantothenate, ferrous
sulfate, cupric sulfate, riboflavin, vitamin A palmitate, thiamine chloride
hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, manganese
sulfate, phylloquinone, vitamin D3, sodium selenite and cyanocobalamin.

Various PUFAs of this invention can be substituted and/or added to the infant
formulae described above and to other infant formulae known to those in the
art."




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