Dear Lacnet

The current position of the UK dept of health on soy formula is based on a
1996 report from the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer
Products and the Environment, made up of independent experts, according to
the policy statement. Concern had been expressed because of phytoestrogens,
and the Committee had been asked to investigate. Their conclusion was that
basically, no one knows for sure the effect on humans, but in animal
studies the same chemicals had produced fertility problems.

The policy position from that was that parents wishing to feed their
infants soy formula should seek advice from their health care professional,
and that while breastfeeding is the best way of feeding infants, and that
it helps prevent allergies, infant formula provide an alternative source of
nutrition and formula based on cow's milk is preferable for most bottle-fed
babies.

In the Government's Weaning and the Weaning Diet report (can't place the
date as I'm quoting from a secondary source, but it's still current)
concern was expressed because of the fact that in soy formula,  lactose is
replaced with glucose, sucrose and maltose, known to be more harmful to
dental health. There have also been concerns raised about aluminium in the
formula, and about the fact that soy formula (like cow's milk formula) is
known to cause allergies (se Baby Milk Action Update Feb 1995).

Ads for soy  formula in the professional journals state that it is not
recommended for pre-term babies or for babies with kidney problems  (is
that becase of the aluminium????)

IMHO soy formula is no 'better' than cow's milk formula, and there is
enough concern to say that it could come with even more risks and hazards.

Heather

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc UK