"Breast Milk Has Never Been Recalled"

I heard a fellow lactation professional say this and it struck a chord. Formula is a wonderful invention because it sustains life.

Formula, however, cannot compare to breast milk, yet in our country we act like it is equal or sometimes better to give formula.

Here are some things from a news article at Yahoo. com that might make you think twice about giving formula to your baby or make you glad you don't.

For more details see http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20100923/lf_ac/6152012_ten_things_you_may_not_know_about_baby_formula_1

1. The linings of formula cans contain bisphenol-A, or BPA, a plastics chemical which mimics the female hormone estrogen. Exposure to BPA can potentially cause reproductive problems and early puberty.

2. Feeding an infant formula can increase the child's risk of developing food allergies and inflammatory bowel disease.

3. It is impossible to produce sterile powdered infant formula.

4. Baby formula may be contaminated with the harmful bacteria enterobacter sakazakii and salmonella enterica.

5. Formula feeding increases a child's risk of childhood obesity and of developing diabetes. 

6. Soy-based formulas contain plant estrogens which can cause a variety of reproductive issues. 

7. The FDA does not test infant formulas prior to their marketing and sale. 

8. Infant formulas often contain perchlorate, the base chemical in solid rocket fuels.

9. FDA testing has revealed that some baby formulas also contain the chemicals melamine and cyanuric acid. 

10. Many brands of formula contain ingredients which are generally acknowledged to contain or produce monosodium glutamate, or MSG. 

If you are a mother did anyone tell you about the risks of formula or tell you it was better?