Operation Stork Speed: Why Updating U.S. Formula Standards Matters for Babies and Parents
When it comes to feeding babies, few topics spark as much anxiety as infant formula. Between social media debates over “seed oils,” headlines about heavy metals, and confusing ingredient labels, it’s no wonder parents feel overwhelmed.
But here’s some important news: the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched Operation Stork Speed, the first comprehensive review of U.S. infant formula standards since 1998. Science has advanced tremendously in the last 25 years, so it’s time for infant formula regulations to reflect the latest research.
Infant formula is already one of the most tightly regulated foods in the U.S., with rigorous oversight to ensure safety, quality, and nutritional adequacy. About 75% of babies in the U.S. will use formula in their first six months, whether as their main food or in combination with breast milk, so keeping standards strong and science-based is essential.
In this post, I will break down what you need to know about the new infant formula review, why it matters, and how it might affect your formula decisions moving forward. Let’s dive in…
Why This Review Matters
The FDA’s Operation Stork Speed will reevaluate formula standards in several key areas, including:
Heavy metal testing
Oligosaccharides (prebiotics that mimic those found in human milk)
Use of seed oils
While some of these may sound technical, understanding them matters because the conclusions the initiative comes to may directly impact what ends up in your baby’s bottle. As a pediatric dietitian, my hope for this initiative is that its key decision makers will root their new recommendations in the science, rather than headlines, myths, and misinformation.
Because at the end of the day, parents deserve reassurance that every scoop of formula reflects both nutritional science and rigorous safety testing.
Let’s take a look at some of the current formula concerns.
Making Sense of the Headlines: Common Formula Concerns
As a parent, it’s natural to worry when you see bold headlines questioning the safety of what your baby eats. The good news is that most of these concerns involve far more context than the headlines let on. Below is a short explanation of some of the concerns you may hear about:
1. Corn Syrup Solids and High-Fructose Corn Syrup
One of the most common parent questions I hear is: “Why does formula have corn syrup?” The answer: Sometimes formulas use corn syrup solids as a carbohydrate source for babies who cannot tolerate lactose or need specialized formulas.
Corn syrup solids are not the same as high-fructose corn syrup found in soda or candy. While both products are made from the starch of corn, they differ in their chemical makeup.
Corn syrup solids are the dried version of corn syrup and are made up of 100% glucose molecules. High fructose corn syrup is corn syrup that has been enzymatically changed to contain fructose and glucose molecules, which increases the sweetness.
While some studies suggest that infants who received formula made with corn syrup solids have a higher risk of obesity during infancy and toddlerhood, more research on this topic is needed. It should be noted that factors such as diet, lifestyle, and genetics also play a significant role in a child's risk of obesity.
In general, when used appropriately, corn syrup solids are a safe, easily digestible, and evidence-based carbohydrate source for babies with specific medical needs.
2. Seed Oils Are Not the Villain
Another hot topic is the use of vegetable oils (like sunflower, safflower, and soy). These “seed oils” supply essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are nutrients babies cannot make on their own but need for growth, brain development, and healthy skin.
Seed oils have been safely used in infant formula for decades in both the U.S. and Europe. To date, there is no scientific evidence linking them to harm in babies. If you want more information about seed oils in infant formula, check out this blog post.
3. Heavy Metals: Real but Managed Risk
Words like “arsenic” or “lead” can understandably be alarming to parents. But here’s the reality: heavy metals are naturally present in soil and water, which means they can show up in all foods, even homemade organic purees.
Responsible formula companies already test their products and keep levels well below regulatory limits. Some brands even go a step further by third-party testing every batch and making the results publicly available by scanning the lot code. That kind of transparency builds trust and sets a high bar for the industry.
What Needs Updating?
While today’s formulas are safe and nutritionally complete, several areas could benefit from stronger or more precise regulations that reflect recent research. Here are a few of the key areas that are in need of updated guidelines:
1. DHA and ARA (Brain and Eye Development)
In Europe, DHA is mandatory in infant formula. In the U.S., it’s optional. Yet research consistently shows that DHA and its partner nutrient, ARA, are essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) that are crucial for infant brain, vision, and nervous system development.
Setting a minimum requirement in the U.S. would help ensure that all babies receive these vital fats, not just those whose parents can afford “premium” formulas.
2. Iron Levels
Iron is essential to prevent anemia and support healthy development. However, new research suggests that too much iron may have unintended negative effects, such as altering gut microbiota or affecting growth patterns.
The FDA’s review is an opportunity to reassess the balance by ensuring enough iron to prevent deficiency, but without unnecessary excess.
3. Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs)
These complex sugars, naturally abundant in breast milk, act as prebiotics that nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support immunity. While some formulas now include synthetic versions, regulations haven’t yet caught up. Standardizing expectations could improve consistency and ensure wider access.
4. Modernizing Oversight Systems
Regulations are only as good as the systems in place to enforce them. Operation Stork Speed is focused on ensuring that inspection, transparency, and supply chain oversight stay strong.
The formula shortage of 2022 revealed how fragile the system can be. Future updates must prioritize both safety and availability.
5. Considering Stage-Based Formulas
European formulas are often designed in “stages,” offering subtle changes in nutrient profile as babies grow to better mimic the way that breast milk naturally shifts over time. In the U.S., formulas are generally “one-size-fits-all.” Adopting a staged approach could give parents more tailored options that evolve with their baby’s needs.
Cutting Through the Noise: Evidence Over Fear
As this review unfolds, parents will likely see even more media coverage, and not all of it will be accurate or reassuring. My hope is that “Operation Stork Speed” prioritizes peer-reviewed research, not fear-driven narratives.
Yes, formulas sometimes contain ingredients that sound unfamiliar and/or scary, like “corn syrup solids” or “seed oils.” And yes, headlines about heavy metals in infant formula can be terrifying.
But the reality is that even before this initiative takes place, all infant formulas that go through FDA review are required to meet very specific nutrient guidelines to ensure they provide the right balance of protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals for healthy growth and brain development. In other words, infant formula in the U.S. is already incredibly safe, closely regulated, and designed to support healthy infant growth.
What Parents Can Do Now
While we wait for updates to be finalized, as a pediatric registered dietitian and fellow parent, here are a few practical tips I find reassuring:
Choose a reputable brand: Look for companies that meet FDA requirements and, ideally, share details on quality control.
Don’t panic over single ingredients: Focus on the big picture of safe, regulated nutrition.
Talk to your pediatrician or dietitian: If you think you may need to switch formulas, especially for medical or allergy-related needs, always discuss with your healthcare provider.
Do not try to make your own homemade formula: There are many risks associated with homemade formulas, including a lack of essential nutrients leading to incorrect nutrient balances, electrolyte imbalances, poor growth, and malnutrition, and potential issues with bacterial contamination.
Bottom Line
The launch of Operation Stork Speed is an important and overdue step in modernizing U.S. infant formula standards. The system we have today is strong, but science has evolved since 1998.
Parents deserve formulas that reflect the latest knowledge about iron, DHA, oligosaccharides, and more, which is also backed by transparent testing and rigorous oversight.
I believe the FDA’s work can bring greater confidence, safety, and innovation to formula feeding. And in the meantime, I want to reassure all parents that the formula on store shelves today is safe, nutritious, and designed to support your baby’s healthy growth and development.
Please schedule a virtual one-on-one consult with me if you need additional support with specific nutritional concerns.
And if your baby is getting ready to start solid foods and you’re interested in learning more about how and when to integrate foods into your baby's diet, as well as how to reduce the risk of food allergies during infancy, check out my new baby-led feeding cookbook!
Thanks for reading!