Improperly prepared formula has a long history. I have just finished writing
the "Summary of Infant Formula Hazards, Part 2" for ILCA. It is on its way to
the printer and will be available from ILCA soon. In the meantime, here are a
few references regarding this health problem. Obviously these reports
represent only a very few of the actual side effects of formula that is not
prepared correctly. We also have the problem of oral water intoxication which
emergency rooms are seeing all to frequently. Mothers use water to stretch
their supply of formula or simply do not realize that too much water in a
short period of time can be harmful to an infant.

All the more reason to help mothers breastfeed!!

Marsha Walker
Weston, Massachusetts

Coodin FJ, Gabrielson IW, Addiego JE: Formula fatality. Pediatrics 1971;
47:438-439

Abrams C, Phillips L, Berkowitz C, et al: Hazards of overconcentrated milk
formula. J American Medical Assoc 1975; 232:1136-1140

McJunkin JE, Bithoney WG, McCormick MC: Errors in formula concentration in an
outpatient population. J Pediatrics 1987; 111(pt1):848-850

Lilburne AM, Oates RK, Thompson S, Tong L. Infant feeding in Sydney: a survey
of mothers who bottlefeed. Aust Paediatr J 1988; 24:49-54

Wilcox D, Fiorello A, Glick P. Hypovolemic shock and intestinal ischemia: a
preventable complication of incomplete formula labeling. J Pediatr 1993;
122:103-104

Green HL, Moyer VA: Improper mixing of formula due to reuse of hospital
bottles. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 1995; 149:97-99

Potur AH, Kalmaz N: An investigation into feeding errors of 0-4 month old
infants. J Tropical Pediatrics 1995; 41:120-12