Major powdered formula milk brands including SMA and Aptamil announce the addition of brain boosting fish oil to their products. Believing that Omega 3 fatty acids help in the development of the baby's brain, parents were instantly hooked. But experts warn that fish oil is too much for a little baby's stomach and it could make the baby seriously ill.
According to Daily Mail, child nutritionists warn about the increasing number of reports about babies who experienced vomiting and nausea after consuming a new formula milk marketed with an enhanced brain-boosting ingredient. Worried mothers report that after finishing the milk, their children experienced serious vomiting. Some babies were rushed to the hospital due to severe reflux and dehydration.
Fish Oil is added to milk products since it is believed that Omega 3 fatty acids can help in the development of a baby's brain. Organic Valley fish oil compliments milk to enhance nutrition release and absorption but some expert say that baby tummies cannot fully process and digest fish oil, leading to severe reflux. In worse cases, babies can suffer from diarrhea and constipation.
Three big milk formula brands namely SMA, Aptamil and Cow & Gate have included fish oil in their standard formula for newborn milk. However, after the incident, more than 13,000 concerned parents signed a petition which demands Nestlé to recall all their SMA Pro Formula Milk from the market.
Top pediatric doctor Colin Michie says there is very little clinical evidence that supports the brain development enhancing capabilities of fish oil. The chairman of the nutrition committee of Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health also added that baby reflux is not an issue but the repetitive episodes may cause stomach acids to damage an infant's esophagus.
Top manufacturers agree that some infants may take a while before getting used to the new formula. They insist, however, that the addition of fish oil to milk formulas was based on years of clinical testing which showed babies tolerating the formula very well. Still, would you allow your babies to consume these fish-oil enhanced milk formulas?
