FDA unveils proposals to update infant formula nutrient requirements

FDA unveils proposals to update infant formula nutrient requirements

The Food and Drug Administration is proposing to update nutrient requirements for infant formula, the first nutrition review for formula in nearly 30 years.

The review is part of the Trump administration’s Operation Stork Speed initiative, which was announced in March 2025 as part of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement.

“Parents deserve confidence in every bottle they feed their baby” Kennedy said in a statement. “We will hold infant formula manufacturers to rigorous scientific standards and put babies’ health first.”

The proposed rule — which is the first phase of the formula review — would update requirements for vitamin A, vitamin D, iodine and manganese as well as reaffirm existing requirements for chloride, potassium, selenium and sodium.

The review is being conducted in three phases , acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantis said, with the goal of releasing one final rule that will cover all 30 nutrients currently required, as well as potentially additional nutrients.

Personal injury and product liability attorney Bill Marler welcomed the update as long overdue and applauded the additional transparency, but noted the absence of a crucial issue that recently plagued the infant formula supply.

Nothing in the announcement “touches the hazard that actually put American babies in intensive care this year and last,” Marler wrote in a blog post.

“The words Clostridium botulinum do not appear in it. Neither do Cronobacter, Salmonella, nor the word pathogen. “

Since November 2025, 52 infants have been hospitalized with botulism after being fed powdered infant formula.

“Not one of them was hurt by a heavy metal or an outdated vitamin D requirement,” Marler said.

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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

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A MESSAGE FROM ALLIANCE FOR AGING RESEARCH

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

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Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

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