US Proposes First Major Infant Formula Nutrient Update Since 1998

October 30, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed updating nutritional requirements for infant formula for the first time since 1998, as it begins a comprehensive review of standards governing products sold in the American market.

The proposed rule would revise requirements for iodine, manganese, vitamin A and vitamin D, while reaffirming existing standards for chloride, potassium, selenium and sodium.

The FDA also released new chemical contaminant testing results showing that most infant formula samples tested had low or undetectable levels of contaminants, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The two actions form part of the Trump administration's Operation Stork Speed and Make America Healthy Again initiatives, which seek to strengthen infant nutrition standards and improve oversight of formula safety.

The proposed changes represent the first phase of a three-stage review covering the 30 nutrients currently required in infant formula marketed in the United States.

In subsequent phases, the agency intends to examine the remaining required nutrients, potential new nutrient requirements and carbohydrate sources. The FDA plans to consolidate the changes into a single comprehensive final rule.

The proposal also seeks public input on whether additional ingredients, including arachidonic acid (ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and L-carnitine, should be subject to mandatory requirements because of their potential nutritional benefits for infant development.

"Under President Trump's leadership, we are modernising our nutritional requirements for infant formula for the first time in nearly three decades," said Kyle Diamantas, acting FDA commissioner.

The FDA has opened the proposal for public comment, with submissions due by February 26, 2027.

Separately, the agency published new chemical contaminant testing data and launched an online dashboard to make the results accessible to parents, caregivers and researchers.

The findings indicated that most samples had low or non-detectable levels of chemical contaminants, consistent with results released earlier in 2026.

The agency said it would continue monitoring contaminant levels and work towards establishing action levels for certain chemicals in infant formula under its Closer to Zero initiative, which seeks to reduce children's exposure to environmental contaminants in food.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the measures were intended to strengthen nutritional requirements, improve contaminant monitoring and make testing results more accessible to parents.

The proposed rule marks the first phase of a wider regulatory review. Its requirements are not yet final and will be subject to public consultation before the FDA completes the rulemaking process.

Source: FSX Business News