History Infant formula

1 history

1.1 infant foods
1.2 raw milk formulas
1.3 evaporated milk formulas
1.4 commercial formulas
1.5 generic brand formulas
1.6 follow-on , toddler formulas
1.7 usage since 1970s

history
early infant foods

throughout history, mothers not breastfeed babies either employed wet nurse or, less frequently, prepared food babies, process known dry nursing . baby food composition varied according region , economic status. in europe , america during 19th century, prevalence of wet nursing began decrease, while practice of feeding babies mixtures based on animal milk rose in popularity.

poster advertisement nestle s milk théophile alexandre steinlen, 1895

this trend driven cultural changes increased sanitation measures, , continued throughout 19th , of 20th century, notable increase after elijah pratt invented , patented india-rubber nipple in 1845. 1846, scientists , nutritionists noted increase in medical problems , infant mortality associated dry nursing. in attempt improve quality of manufactured baby foods, in 1867, justus von liebig developed world s first commercial infant formula, liebig s soluble food babies. success of product gave rise competitors such mellin s food, ridge s food infants , nestlé s milk.

raw milk formulas

as physicians became increasingly concerned quality of such foods, medical recommendations such thomas morgan rotch s percentage method (published in 1890) began distributed, , gained widespread popularity 1907. these complex formulas recommended parents mix cow s milk, water, cream, , sugar or honey in specific ratios achieve nutritional balance believed approximate human milk reformulated in such way accommodate believed digestive capability of infant.

a 1915 advertisement nestlés food .

at dawn of 20th century in united states, infants breastfed, although many received formula feeding well. home-made percentage method formulas more commonly used commercial formulas in both europe , united states. less expensive , believed healthier. however, formula-fed babies exhibited more diet-associated medical problems, such scurvy, rickets , bacterial infections breastfed babies. 1920, incidence of scurvy , rickets in formula-fed babies had decreased through addition of orange juice , cod liver oil home-made formulas. bacterial infections associated formula remained problem more prevalent in united states in europe, milk boiled prior use in formulas.

evaporated milk formulas

in 1920s , 1930s, evaporated milk began commercially available @ low prices, , several clinical studies suggested babies fed evaporated milk formula thrive breastfed babies

these findings not supported modern research. these studies, accompanied affordable price of evaporated milk , availability of home icebox initiated tremendous rise in use of evaporated milk formulas. late 1930s, use of evaporated milk formulas in united states surpassed commercial formulas, , 1950 on half of babies in united states reared on such formulas.

commercial formulas

in parallel enormous shift (in industrialized nations) away breastfeeding home-made formulas, nutrition scientists continued analyze human milk , attempted make infant formulas more closely matched composition. maltose , dextrins believed nutritionally important, , in 1912, mead johnson company released milk additive called dextri-maltose. formula made available mothers physicians. in 1919, milkfats replaced blend of animal , vegetable fats part of continued drive closer simulate human milk. formula called sma simulated milk adapted.

in late 1920s, alfred bosworth released similac (for similar lactation ), , mead johnson released sobee. several other formulas released on next few decades, commercial formulas did not begin compete evaporated milk formulas until 1950s. reformulation , concentration of similac in 1951, , introduction (by mead johnson) of enfamil (for infant meal ) in 1959 accompanied marketing campaigns provided inexpensive formula hospitals , pediatricians. 1960s, commercial formulas more commonly used evaporated milk formulas in united states, vanished in 1970s. 1970s, on 75% of american babies fed on formulas, entirely commercially produced.

when birth rates in industrial nations tapered off during 1960s, infant formula companies heightened marketing campaigns in non-industrialized countries. unfortunately, poor sanitation led steeply increased mortality rates among infants fed formula prepared contaminated (drinking) water. additionally, low-income families may over-dilute in effort stretch supplies resulting in malnourishment infant. organized protests, famous of nestlé boycott of 1977, called end unethical marketing. boycott ongoing, current coordinators maintain nestlé engages in marketing practices violate international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes.

generic brand formulas

in addition commercially marketed brands, generic brands (or store brands) of infant formula introduced in united states in 1997, first pbm products. these private label formulas sold many leading food , drug retailers such wal-mart, target, kroger, loblaws, , walgreens. infant formula brands in united states required adhere food , drug administration (fda) guidelines. reported mayo clinic: “as consumer products, brand-name infant formulas cost more generic brands. doesn t mean brand-name [similac, nestle, enfamil] formulas better. although manufacturers may vary in formula recipes, fda requires formulas contain same nutrient density.”

similarly, in canada infant formulas regardless of brand required meet standards set health canada.

follow-on , toddler formulas

follow-on or toddler formulas sold ages 6 months 2 years, (when infants typically breastfed) , not nutritionally complete nor subject same regulations infant formula. critics have argued follow-on , toddler formulas introduced circumvent regulations regarding infant formula , have resulted in confusing advertising.

an example of follow-on formula introduced wyeth in philippines in 1987, following introduction in country of regulations on infant formula advertising, did not address follow-on formulas (products did not exist @ time of drafting). similarly, while infant formula advertising illegal in united kingdom, follow-on formula advertising legal, , similar packaging , market results in follow-on advertisements being interpreted advertisements formula. (see industry , marketing, below.)

these products have fallen under criticism contributing childhood obesity epidemic in developed countries due marketing , flavoring practices.

usage since 1970s

since 1970s, industrial countries have witnessed resurgence in breastfeeding among newborns , infants 6 months of age. upswing in breastfeeding has been accompanied deferment in average age of introduction of other foods (such cow s milk), resulting in increased use of both breastfeeding , infant formula between ages of 3–12 months.

the global infant formula market has been estimated @ $7.9 billion, north america , western europe accounting 33% of market , considered largely saturated, , asia representing 53% of market. south east asia particularly large fraction of world market relative population. infant formula largest segment of baby food market, fraction given between 40% , 70%.

leading health organizations (e.g. who, u.s. centers disease control , department of health , human services) attempting reduce use of infant formula , increase prevalence of breastfeeding birth through 12 24 months of age through public health awareness campaigns. specific goals , approaches of these breastfeeding promotion programs, , policy environment surrounding implementation, vary country. policy basic framework, international code of marketing of breast-milk substitutes, adopted s world health assembly in 1981, requires infant formula companies preface product information statements breastfeeding best way of feeding babies , substitute should used after consultation health professionals. baby friendly hospital initiative restricts use hospitals of free formula or other infant care aids provided formula companies. (see policy section below.)