Soy Beverages

This kind of soy beverage, sometimes improperly called “soy milk,” should not be confused with soy based infant formulas. Unlike true infant formulas, which are nutritionally complete and appropriate for infants, soy beverages are lacking some of the nutrients infants need.

Analysis of Soy Moo by the Arkansas Children’s Hospital revealed deficiencies in calcium, niacin, and vitamins D, E, and C.

A severely malnourished 5-month old infant was admitted to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas, in February 1990 with symptoms including heart failure, rickets, vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation), and possible neurological damage. According to the hospital, the baby girl had been fed nothing but Soy Moo since she was 3 days old. Soy Moo is a soy beverage sold in health food stores.

Labels on Soy Moo cartons and literature about the drink do not suggest that Soy Moo be used as an infant formula. In addition, an FDA investigation found no evidence that infant’s parents were explicitly told the Soy Moo could be used as a baby’s sole nourishment. Nevertheless, Soy Moo’s distributor, Health Valley Foods, Irwindale, California, has voluntarily stopped distribution until the new labels stating “Do Not Use as Infant Formula” can be printed.

FDA learned of a similar incident that occurred in April 1990 when a California couple questioned a physician about their 2-month old daughter’s failure to gain weight. The physician discovered that the baby had been exclusively fed Edensoy, another brand of soy beverage. A midwife had recommended Edensoy to the parents, according to the FDA investigator assigned to the case.

In response to this incident, Edensoy’s manufacturer, Eden Foods, Clinton, Michigan, wrote all its retailers in the United States and Canada to remind them that Edensoy is not an infant formula. In addition, the letter said, “Please make sure that no store personnel suggest or imply that Edensoy or other soy beverages are suitable for use as an infant formula.”

In an effort to prevent this problem with similar soy beverage, FDA asked all 68 known manufacturers, importers, and private label distributors of these products to include a warning against using beverages as infant formula. The agency does not, however, have the regulatory authority to require this warning.

Courtesy articles provided by www.cfsan.fda.gov, and www.familyassociation.org