Rocket fuel chemical found in baby formula
For many, making ends meet is a challenge. Paychecks don’t stretch as far as they used to, and payday loans are only a temporary bridge. The current recession has prompted many families to turn to cheaper alternatives for everyday needs. For some mothers and fathers, this means resorting to more inexpensive brands of powdered baby formula. But as Mike Stobbe reports for the Associated Press, the savings are negated by the presence of perchlorate, a chemical found in rocket fuel.
Traces of perchlorate have been discovered in powdered formula, and the amount could exceed what’s considered a safe dose for adults if mixed with water also contaminated by the chemical. This shocking news was unearthed in a study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In more good news, the chemical can also be found in the drinking water supplies of several cities, thanks in large part to contamination from defense and aerospace sites.
Hallelujah!
According to Stobbe, scientists have reported that “significant amounts of perchlorate” can affect thyroid function. The thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism. Problems with the thyroid can impact fetal and infant brain development. The government currently requires that formula contain iodine, which counteracts perchlorate’s effects. However, infant size and how much formula they consume may be important factors in whether the iodine is enough.
Here’s more bad news: the study also found that the largest traces of the chemical was found in baby formula derived from cow’s milk.
The EPA is considering setting new limits on the allowable amount of perchlorate in drinking water. Some states have already taken the step of establishing their own limits. All states should do this, rather than waiting for a government that moves at glacial speed, particularly when there are supercompanies drive by greed. Right, Nestle?
The brands studied were not disclosed
That doesn’t help parents much, does it? Here’s an all-natural solution, taking a page from the La Leche League. Breastfeed your children! And while you’re at it, boycott Facebook for their stance on photos depicting breastfeeding.
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If it’s a component of rocket fuel, does this count as a new brand of energy drink? Kidding aside, perchlorate is used in treating thyroid disorders, and it occurs in very dry places in nature, as it is a naturally occurring salt. There are certain lakes that have a high concentration of perchlorate from fireworks set off on the 4th of July. They also found trace amounts of perchlorate in soil samples from Mars. That said, it isn’t supposed in drinking water and definitely not in baby formula.