The articles used in this reprint originally appeared in the October 1995
and June 1996 FDA Consumer. The resulting reprint was revised in December 1996 and September 1998.

Breast Milk or Formula: Making the Right Choice for Your Baby

Don't Try This at Home

Homemade formulas should not be used. Homemade formulas based on cow's milk don't meet all of an infant's nutritional needs, and cow's milk protein that has not been cooked or processed is difficult for an infant to digest. In addition, the high protein and electrolyte (salt) content of cow's milk may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys. Substituting evaporated milk for whole milk may make the homemade formula easier to digest because of the effect of processing on the protein, but the formula is still nutritionally inadequate and still may stress the kidneys.
Today's infant formula is a very controlled, high-tech product that can't be duplicated at home, says Udall.

Rebecca D. Williams is a writer in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Isadora Stehlin is a member of FDA's public affairs staff.