Powdered infant formula is not sterile - the process prevents sterility.
Liquid/premade formula is sterile. 

Powdered formula has the risk of being contaminated with E. Sakazakii (a
bacterium which will cause death in 20-50% {according to WHO} and 40-80%
{according to an article in Emerging Infectious Disease} of the infants who
become infected). People at greatest risk for disease include under 1 year
of age, pre-term infants, low-birth weight and immunocompromised infants.

Decontaminating the formula with boiling water will help, but here in the
US, there are a number of new formulas touting "beneficial bacteria" where
the directions tell specifically not to use boiling water d/t killing off
said beneficials. Since there seems to be no idea which batch is
contaminated, the only way to tell is after someone has developed disease.

I believe 6 weeks was chosen because newborns are at highest risk for
meningitis d/t the immaturity of the blood-brain barrier - previous to 6
weeks, the barrier is easily crossed and contamination can quickly lead to
central nervous system disease (NE Journal of Med).

Hope this helps.

Sam Doak

<<

Hi, one of the pedis asked about a mother telling her that someone said not
to use powder formula before 6 months. Is this true? I searched the archives
but could not find a specific time frame for starting powder. thank you,
Germaine 

    

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