Your Baby Today: New Baby, New Mom: Expert Q&A: Diet & Nutrition: Feeding: Soy Based Formulas

Linda G. Hsieh is a practicing registered dietitian with over six years experience in clinical practice. Focusing on prenatal and pediatric nutrition, she has worked as a nutrition educator for over nine years.

Q: Is it true that babies who are fed soy-based formulas may be missing out on certain nutrients?

A: No, this is not true. All infant formulas in the United States are regulated by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and must comply with the requirements of the Infant Formula Act of 1980. Among the many requirements, FDA mandates that all infant formulas, including soy based infant formulas, comply with strict nutrient requirements that are based on recommendations made by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition (AAPCON). So you can be confident that soy-based infant formulas marketed here in the United States contain all the nutrients needed to support growth in full-term babies.