The new formula with rice starch has been advertised for some time in the
journal Pediatrics. Nowhere does it actually say what it is for. This formula
is called a niche product. Manufacturers find that they must continually
increase profits but cannot do this unless they increase their market share.
This is done by introducing new items and then creating the need for them. It
is much easier to sell a product if it appears to be curing a problem, so they
persuade us that we need this product to cure a disease. Companies flirted
with adding extra ingredients to make formula-fed babies sleep like breastfed
babies. Something like an AM formula to feed to baby during the day, and a PM
formula to make him sleep at night! Babies do not really need this formula but
the formula companies do.

I have seen no long term follow-up on babies fed this formula. Clinical trials
usually look at if the baby grows on the stuff. The situation in North
Carolina that Kathleen Bruce mentioned about a soy formula study is probably a
clinical trial, that is an experiment on babies to see what the formula does
to them.

I think the FDA should be contacted regarded the safety and use of this new
formula and ask to see all the submitted data on why it was approved and how
they intend to prevent its misuse. The FDA has a reporting mechanism called
MedWatch which you can access at their web site.

Marsha Walker
Weston, Massachusetts