#3 - healthy baby formula

it's illegal!

Like many new parents, I received a mountain of gift boxes when my kid was born. One was Tubby Todd’s Newborn Bundle. I used the lotion for weeks before flipping it around to read the ingredients list. Twenty-five ingredients? A standard lotion has maybe 8 to 12. And of course, it includes seed oil—brilliant.

You might think you know where this is going—that I’m about to rant about how American companies cut corners with cheap ingredients to make a quick buck, health be damned. And while there’s some truth to that, the issue with baby products is even more sinister. It’s not about corporate greed; it’s about a system that actively blocks healthier options.

You’ve probably heard that European baby formula is healthier than its U.S. counterpart. They use lactose (sugar from milk) instead of corn syrup solids. But did you know that one in five New York City parents imports European formula? And did you know it’s illegal to do so? U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized nearly 600 cases of European baby formula in 2021.

The FDA doesn’t explicitly mandate seed oils and other harmful ingredients, but their requirements make them almost unavoidable. A startup called Bobbie tried to create a European-style formula and sell it to all of those Manhattanites. But their dream was crushed when the FDA raided their warehouse just 10 days after launch, with as few as 100 customers—likely the quickest and smallest inspection in FDA history. They managed to bounce back and get FDA approval, but the new formulation had to include seed oils and be manufactured in the U.S., of course. I still have the utmost respect for Bobbie; at least they’re trying.

So what’s really going on here? The free market is trying to offer healthier choices, but bureaucrats are slamming the door shut. These regulations not only block healthier alternatives but also let the big players keep churning out cheap, unhealthy crap. Maybe the FDA cares more about American baby formula manufacturers than American babies.

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If you’re looking for a seed oil-free formula, you’ll have to wait until your baby’s a toddler. When that time comes, head over to Serenity Kids and grab their Toddler Formula. Tell them Kartik sent you!