FSSAI crackdown on infant formula fuels renewed call for breastfeeding

When the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) swept through a handful of private manufacturers last month, inspectors uncovered shelves stocked with expired infant formula. The discovery set off a ripple of concern among health professionals, who seized the moment to remind parents that nothing beats a mother’s own milk.

“Breast‑feeding should be the first and only option for a newborn,” says Hajira Tarannum, a paediatric nutritionist and IYCF counsellor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH). “Only in very rare, medically‑complicated cases do we consider alternatives, and even then formula is usually not the answer.”

Tarannum explains that most baby‑friendly hospitals actually refuse to keep any Infant Milk Substitute (IMS) on their wards. “If a mother can’t express milk right away, the supply dries up quickly. In those handful of situations where a baby truly can’t be breast‑fed, we recommend boiled and cooled Nandini milk – the blue‑packaged variety – without diluting it with water,” she adds, a slight pause in her voice as if recalling a common question.

She’s quick to point out that the industry loves to market formula as “close to mother’s milk,” yet the reality is far from it. “The price tags say anywhere between ₹700 and ₹1,800 for a small pack, and the nutritional gap is still huge,” she notes, her tone a mix of frustration and warning.

Other experts echo the sentiment. Neonatologist Dr. Niranjan of IGICH, which runs a milk bank on its premises, cautions against giving cow’s milk to infants. “Cow milk can trigger diarrhoea, gut inflammation and other serious problems in babies whose systems aren’t ready for it,” he says, pausing as if recalling a recent case.

In the rare scenario where a mother truly cannot breast‑feed—perhaps due to a serious illness or a medication that contraindicates nursing—health workers suggest a few vetted alternatives. Apart from the boiled Nandini milk, some parents turn to donated milk from accredited milk banks, whether in private or government hospitals. “The key is safety and sterility,” Dr. Niranjan emphasizes.

While the FSSAI drive has thrown a spotlight on the commercial side of infant nutrition, the broader message from doctors is crystal clear: protect the newborn with the most natural nourishment available, and resort to substitutes only when absolutely unavoidable.