I said I would check my figures on this.

According to MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Foods)  2 per cent
of babies receive soya formula, but that includes babies who are otherwise
breastfed or fed cow's milk formula.

The Government's Food  Advisory Committee  has 'advised' manufacturers to
reduce the level of phytoestrogens in soya formula. The Dept of Health's
Committe on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the
Environment called for monitoring of levels in soya formula, and  conducted
a review. Following this,  the Dept of Health affirmed that health
professional advice be sought if mothers want to switch to soya formula and
that while bf is the best way to feed an infant and it can help prevent
allergy, modified cow's milk formula is the preferred alternative for most
infants.  HPs have been circulated with strong advice about the risks of
soya formula, and told it should only be used in specific circumstances.

There is now new concern about the use of genetically-modified soya used in
some brands of soya formula.

All my info here comes from Tessa Martyn (from Baby Milk Action), who has a
very good fact-packed piece in the current Practising Midwife (not on the
web : ( )

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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