FSSAI Crackdown on Infant Formula Sparks Fresh Calls for Breastfeeding

When inspectors from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) swung by a handful of private baby‑food manufacturers last month, they uncovered a worrying stash of expired infant formula. The discovery set off alarm bells across paediatric circles, and the response has been crystal clear: nothing beats a mother's own milk.

“In our hospitals we push breastfeeding from day one,” says Hajira Tarannum, a nutritionist and infant‑young‑child‑feeding counsellor at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH). “Only in truly exceptional cases – say the baby is seriously ill or the mother cannot lactate – do we even think about a substitute.” She adds, with a hint of impatience, that even then the default is not to reach for a tin of formula.

Tarannum explains that many child‑friendly hospitals outright refuse to stock any Infant Milk Substitute (IMS). “If a mother and baby aren’t able to establish that early milk‑exchange, we often see the mother’s supply dry up completely,” she notes. In those rare gaps, the team points parents toward two alternatives: milk from a certified milk bank, or the blue‑packet Nandini milk – but only after boiling it and letting it cool, never diluting it with water.

She is quick to dismiss the marketing hype around formula. “Manufacturers love to brag that their product is ‘close to mother’s milk.’ Trust me, it isn’t. And it’s pricey – anywhere from ₹700 to ₹1,800 for a month’s supply.” The cost, she says, is another reason why many families end up stuck with a product that may be past its prime.

Another voice from IGICH, neonatologist Dr Niranjan, echoes the same sentiment. “Our on‑site milk bank is a lifesaver for the few babies who truly need it,” he says, gesturing toward the refrigerated rows of screened donor milk. “But cow’s milk? That’s a no‑go for infants. It can trigger diarrhoea and a host of gastrointestinal problems.”

While the FSSAI’s surprise raid has rattled manufacturers, the bigger story is perhaps the renewed emphasis on what nature already provides. “Breastfeeding isn’t just nutrition; it’s immunological protection, bonding, and, frankly, the most economical option,” Tarannum concludes, smiling at the thought of a mother‑infant duo settling into that timeless rhythm.