The Great Biden Baby Milk Shortage

For anyone who isn’t aware of it, there’s an acute shortage of “Baby Formula”. This has sent many Mom’s into a bit of a panic.

But never fear, some Grandmas rolled out “how we used to do it”; which has caused a PANIC! at the FDA and in (anti)-“Social-Media” as they fall all over themselves to say if you feed your child anything not Approved By Authority and certified as coming from a Factory They Licence with only Ph.D. level of Nutritional Authority behind it, well, you just might be killing your baby. Now you would not want to kill your baby, would you?

(Unless, of course, you want an abortion, perhaps even after “it” was born… then hey, kill all you want… it’s your RIGHT after all, to commit infanticide on demand.)

Strange, these folks…

It is almost like they believe there was never a time when Big Pharma / Big Ag Manufactured Formula did not exist and EVERY SINGLE BABY fed ANYTHING ELSE, died. Horribly.

Never mind that Nestle was found to be causing a LOT of infant deaths in Africa via promoting “formula” over Mother’s Milk. Seems that making “formula” with dirty water is prone to killing babies and there wasn’t a lot of clean water where they were promoting their “formula”…

So what’s the FDA and Big Pharma / Big Ag Food Companies saying about DIY “formula”? They are saying don’t even think about it, since, after all, YOU might not be as clean as their facilities. Bacteria and stuff, don’t you know. Oh, and you might be making something a bit light on Iron or B Vitamins or maybe even selected fatty acids. Because, you know, Starving To Death from having NOTHING is much better than being a bit light on added iron for a week or 2 until the stores catch up… /sarc;

Really. They do not AT ALL consider the alternative of a baby with zero calories and zero vitamins and zero iron input if you feed them NOTHING, since the “approved formula” is not to hand. It’s the unobtainium Approved Formula or nothing.

Sigh. The Stupid, it burns. Even when it comes from M.D.s, Ph.Ds, and Federal Agencies.

But, don’t worry, Politifact says “Don’t DO IT!” too, so you know it must be fine /sarc;

https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/may/13/facebook-posts/experts-warn-against-homemade-baby-formula/

• The U.S. Food & Drug Administration advises against making homemade formula and says consuming it can result in adverse health effects for infants.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics also strongly advises against homemade formula, saying it isn’t safe and does not meet babies’ nutritional needs.
[…]
The May 11 post says people can follow a 1960 recipe for homemade baby formula as a workaround during the current shortage. It shows a photo of the recipe, with ingredients that include evaporated milk and Karo syrup.

The caption says, “Y’all, I felt this was pertinent information to share considering the shortages we are facing with our babies. I personally have not used this method yet but glad to have the details just in case!”

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

So there’s that…

Some Sidebars:

Abbot Labs shipped some bad batches and got shut down. This took some significant percentage of production off line. That’s what happens when you have an industry concentrated in just a few companies and one has an F-Up. Ought to be back on line in a week or two and Federally Approved again some weeks after that and in stores again in a few months. Until then, feed some other brand of Approved Formula. That’s the answer to empty shelves, eh? Swap to the other sold out brand?

Then Biden had The Feds buy up truckloads of Baby Formula and ship it to Ukraine & the Invading Illegal Aliens at the Southern Border, because, you know, Europe is so far far away from Ukraine that it just had to come from us, and women who fed their kid all the way across the Mexican Desert can’t possibly do it any longer by going to the store or finding a goat…

Speaking of goats:

The Spouse & her twin as infants didn’t do well with Cow Milk. They were in the group that gets a bit colicy on it. Cow’s milk can cause an allergic reaction in some kids, or can curdle a bit much in the stomachs of others and cause gassiness and gurping. As in upchucking. So, being twins, it was a bit much for Mom to breast feed. So they were fed on a DIY Baby Formula of goat milk base. (Human Milk is sweeter from more sugars, so most DIY formulas add a sugar source and then some also add iron or vitamin fortification. Though I do wonder if there is any baby in America today that isn’t already being fed infant vitamins by the dropper full.)

For me, I was breast fed “for a while” and then transitioned to “formula”. In those days it was not dry powdered milk with added vitamins and iron as it is today. It turns out that the process of making “Condensed Milk” aka “Evaporated Milk:” changes the fat globules such that you tend to not get the colic and it concentrates the milk so the nutrients are as dense as in human milk. Just add sugars… I believe I got the condensed milk with added Kero Syrup and / or molasses. I’ve loved the flavor and aroma of molasses ever since ;-) I do vaguely remember the transition to The Bottle. I hated the taste of the rubber nipple and it was harder to get the flow going; but after being hungry for a few hours I “gave in” and made it work. It’s that near Aspe memory thing…

The point behind these two stories? Well, pretty simple. DIY Formula did NOT kill me, nor my spouse, nor her twin. Nor millions of other babies from the ’50s and ’60s. It may not be as ideal as “Mother’s Milk”, nor as chemically enhanced as “Modern Big Pharma Approved FDA Stamped and Kick Back Paid Dry Baby Formula”, but it sure beats the pants off of “nothing”.

Women have been finding ways to feed their babies for millions of years, in far worse conditions and with far less choices than now. Yes, some of them have chosen badly (like those women in Africa who believed the Nestle ads and swapped from breast milk to formula mixed with local water), but most have done OK. Even more important, the Medical Guidance of the ’50s and ’60s was pretty darned good. (See me and the spouse as existence proofs).

One friend had a baby that could not take anything with milk in it of any kind. And she-of-tiny-breasts just could not make enough milk after the first few weeks. Well, it seems you can make a “good enough” formula out of various “bone broth” with “stuff” added. (chopped cooked liver is one of them… which sure surprised me!) Again, “consider the alternative” of a kid that just dies of slow starvation.

Goat Milk is widely available in stores. I have 2 quarts in the fridge right now. Publix has been out for 2 weeks, but yesterday Trader Joe’s had a full shelf and Sprouts had it in stock. You can even get powdered goat’s milk for making “dry formula” if you like. We use it since Cow’s Milk causes the arthritis to flare up if we use it for over a week.

For most kids, Evaporated Cow’s Milk with some sweetness added and a bit of vitamin and mineral support will work fine for a few weeks. (Or, as for me, for months…) And not to beat a dead cow… but it sure is better than having NOTHING to feed… Always “consider the alternative”. Saying “Only Utopia Is Approved” doesn’t do any good when your choices are between “Maybe good enough, or bad, or worse, or nothing.”

Of particular interest here is that The W.H.O. even has such a formula they approve of for The World… So while the FDA / Big Pharma / Big Ag is busying saying ~”Do it and your child will die!” (but I paraphrase…) The W.H.O. is saying “well, if you need something, this will work”. (So, faux “fact checkers”: Which “Source Of Authority” is lying, eh? FDA or WHO?)

Well, that’s my take on all of it. My “lived experience”. Obligatory legal disclaimers are things like “I’m not a doctor, talk to your doctor” and “I’m not giving any medical, legal, ethical, professional, or even stupid advice” as I’m just talking about my family history. You do you. ONLY folks who work for the Government in Official Capacity in Agencies can possibly know enough to give you advice; or tell you what they will permit you to do. Certainly not me. Oh, and doing ANYTHING anyone describes or even talks about on the internet is known to cause immediate death, dandruff, loss of sex drive, obesity and a grumpy attitude, so there’s that…

Now with that said, some of the following links (provided ONLY for you to tsk tsk at and disparage the stupidity of anyone NOT from the FDA having an opinion) might be useful to folks with a squalling baby and nothing to feed them. Or at least to get your mind off of the noise.

So some random links found via DDGo and “DIY Baby Formula”. I know nothing about them, and simply picked things that were interesting to me for various reasons. Often just the oddity of some of them:

Let’s start with a pretty simple one that still looks pretty good:

https://nourishingjoy.com/homemade-infant-formula/

Points onward to:

https://nourishingjoy.com/homemade-emergency-baby-formula-recipe/

Homemade Emergency Baby Formula Recipe

WRITTEN BY
KRESHA FABER
LAST UPDATED ON
MAY 12, 2022

Homemade Emergency Baby Formula Recipe
This recipe, based on World Health Organization guidelines and physician studies through the early twentieth century, is an excellent stop-gap option for when your baby is hungry and you have no other feeding options. It is meant for short-term use only.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course: baby food
Cuisine: Global
Servings: 1 quart (32 fl oz // 946 mL)

Equipment
1 quart-sized canning jar with a tight-fitting lid OR a blender
Ingredients
FOR THE FORMULA:
1 13-ounce can (354 mL) full-fat evaporated milk
2 ⅓ cups (19 fluid ounces // 562 mL) clean water, preferably slightly warm
2 tablespoons blackstrap molasses
TO GIVE SEPARATELY AS A NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT:
1 dose multi-vitamin for infants, given daily (follow the dosage instructions on the multivitamin bottle)

Instructions

Mix the formula. Place all ingredients in a clean, quart-sized jar with a tight-fitting lid or in a blender. Shake or blend until well-mixed. (If you’re using granulated sugar, be sure to mix until it has been dissolved.)

Feed the baby. Pour into clean bottles and give to baby immediately or store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Discard any unused formula after three days.
Give a multivitamin supplement, if available. Give one dose of multivitamin to your baby at least once a day.
[…]
Why is there sugar in this recipe?
Sugar is used to bring the evaporated milk up closer to the level of natural sugars in human breast milk. We’re calling for blackstrap molasses as the sugar because it also contains iron, sodium, and potassium.
What can I use instead of molasses?
If you do not have blackstrap molasses, you may substitute an equal amount of brown sugar, granulated sugar, dark corn syrup (preferably GMO-free) OR maple syrup.
DO NOT USE sweetened condensed milk, as it contains FAR too much sugar.
DO NOT USE HONEY as a sugar substitute if your baby is under 12 months old.

So there’s you’re basic short term “emergency” baby ration, as suggested by the W.H.O. “Authority”. Good enough for COVID advice so likely just as good for food advice. No?

It actually looks pretty good to me, what with the molasses for iron and an external vitamin supplement.

Back on her top page:

Homemade Baby Formula: A Blessing for This Tired Mama

Enter powdered goat milk. Goat’s milk is a traditional substitutionary food for infants, but the trouble is that goat’s milk lacks folic acid and Vitamin B12, we didn’t have access to raw goat’s milk, and store-bought goat’s milk goes bad rather quickly. Since we were merely supplementing my breast milk, not substituting all together, I knew we wouldn’t go through fresh goat’s milk quickly enough to make it worth the cost.

meyenberg goat milk for homemade baby formula

But then I found Meyenberg powdered goat milk and my worries were assuaged – not only does it have a longer shelf-life due to being powdered, but Meyenberg fortifies their milk with folic acid and Vitamin D, specifically because it’s often used for toddlers.
[…]
Once I consulted with my naturopath, we added a few more ingredients to the goat milk to add in specific vitamins and minerals and I used this formula to supplement my son’s diet for more than a year. This find was an absolute blessing for our family – financially because conventional formula is incredibly expensive, nutritionally because my son got what he needed and thrived (and avoided other questionable ingredients), and ethically because we weren’t supporting certain conventional formula companies whose business practices I questioned.

Goat’s Milk Homemade Baby Formula (for supplementation)

This homemade baby formula can be a lovely, natural solution when you need to supplement breastmilk, make emergency baby formula, extend other formula, or provide extra nutrition for your baby. Always consult your child’s pediatrician before making feeding changes to ensure YOUR specific child’s needs are met.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course: baby food
Cuisine: Global
Servings: 1 8-oz bottle

Ingredients
8 ounces clean water at body-temperature
2 scoops (28 g) powdered goat milk
½ teaspoon nutritional yeast (for the B vitamins and folic acid)
1 teaspoon brown rice syrup (for the carbohydrates)
2 teaspoons blackstrap molassas (for the iron and the sugar)
½ teaspoon cod liver oil (for Vitamins A & D and balanced omegas), (once a day)
Vitamin D drops – amount according to brand, optional (once a day)

Instructions
Mix the ingredients. Place all ingredients in a bottle and shake vigorously to combine. You may also use a small mason jar or pre-mix enough for 2-3 bottles in a blender.

Serve. Give to the baby right away or store in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Discard any formula that has been served to the baby but has not been finished.

Looks pretty good to me, as they cover the major issues with goat milk. A bit light on some fatty acids, maybe. I’m not sure exactly the composition of cod liver oil. I’d consider adding some coconut oil or butter to match the total fat of other recipes seen below.

With that, on to the the folks who like it raw… (and I’m not one of them)…

https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/childrens-health/formula-homemade-baby-formula/

Our homemade baby formulas were created by Mary Enig, PhD and first published in the book Nourishing Traditions.
[…]
Raw Milk Baby Formula
Makes 36 ounces.

Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow’s milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to cow’s milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.

The ideal milk for baby, if he cannot be breastfed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good quality milk, see http://www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes (available from G.E.M. Cultures 253-588-2922.

I found this one interesting as Raw Milk can have various disease organisms in it. Then they have you culture it a bit with yogurt or kifir starter. OK… It also ignores that whole “cow’s milk colic” thing that some kids get, but does mention a goat milk variation. I note that this one has some added bacteria starter cultures. I’m pretty sure that’s not essential as many do not. It also specifies “lactose” which is likely best, but glucose from Kero Syrup or similar is likely to be fine too. Probably depends a lot on what you can get and how hungry the kid is while you hunt for it…

Ingredients

2 cups whole raw cow’s milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (which will cause the formula to curdle). Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
4 tablespoons lactose
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (preferably not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil
1/4 teaspoon high-vitamin butter oil (optional)
1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons coconut oil
2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes
2 teaspoons gelatin
1-7/8 cups filtered water
1/4 teaspoon acerola powder

The fatty acid composition of coconut oil and butter oil is “special” and rather closer to that of goats milk (short chain fatty acids); but sunflower and olive oil are rather ordinary. Yeast (or brewers yeast extract) for the B vitamins, while gelatin is just to get the protein level up.

I have no idea what acerola is… a quick search shows it is a berry with high levels of Vit C and minerals.

So looking at this overall, it is mostly just cows milk with increased levels of sugar, fats, and protein, and then some added vitamins. Not exactly rocket science.

They have this to say about Goat’s Milk:

Variation: Goat Milk Formula
Although goat milk is rich in fat, it must be used with caution in infant feeding as it lacks folate and is low in vitamin B12, both of which are essential to the growth and development of the infant. Inclusion of nutritional yeast to provide folate is essential. To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12, if preparing the Milk-Based Formula (above) with goat’s milk, add 2 teaspoons organic raw chicken liver, frozen for 14 days, finely grated to the batch of formula. Be sure to begin egg-yolk feeding at four months.

Um, I think I’d go with the infant vitamins instead of raw chicken liver…

So I’ve put Weston Price “up front” not as “endorsement”, but because they are usually the most “out there” on nutritional advice. Lots of raw stuff despite infection issues. Lots of petty rules and complicated processes (I left the processes out of the quotes).

I’ve skipped their liver / broth formula, but will have a similar one from other sites below.

Next up is a more “traditional” approach for that 2 AM & I need something, anything, that’s got a good chance of working:

https://wehavekids.com/parenting/Emergency-Baby-Formula

Homemade Emergency Baby Formula Recipe
TERESA GABBIANI MAR 4, 2022

If you’re temporarily stuck without formula, you can use one of these emergency recipes to safely feed your infant. These substitutes should not be used in the long term.

What Can You Use as a Substitute?
Before the days of Similac and soy-based milk products, infants would drink raw cow or goat milk. Unfortunately, raw milk frequently carried diseases that led to diarrhea, vomiting, high fevers, and compromised immune systems. In the 1920s, industrialization and new preservation processes allowed a number of foods to be sanitized of bacteria and stored for future use. Milk could now be stored for long periods of time safely without refrigeration. Evaporated milk was born.
[…]
What Is Evaporated Milk?
Evaporated milk is exactly what it sounds like—milk that has been heated to a level where its water content begins to evaporate. Containing only 60% of the water found in typical milk, evaporated milk is milk intensified. This evaporation process concentrates nutrition and fat. In fact, it has around double the caloric and nutritional content of its unprocessed counterpart—exactly what your little one needs to satiate their hunger without compromising their health.

Before you begin, keep in mind that the recipes in this article are for short-term emergency use only and will not provide sufficient nutrition for prolonged use. Use these recipes only when you cannot, for whatever reason, obtain professionally made and nutritionally complete baby formula.

I see they have also been driven to include the obligatory genuflect to TPTB…

1. Evaporated Milk Baby Formula Substitute

This recipe is for traditional emergency formula (just like Grandma used to make). One standard-sized 13-ounce can of evaporated milk can make a full quart of emergency formula. The process is simple, fast, and—best of all—does not compromise your child’s health.

As Dr. Andrew J. Schuman writes in his article, “A Concise History of Infant Formula,” this is the exact recipe that was widely used in the 1950s and 1960s for infants who were not breastfed. Please remember, though, that this homemade formula is not a long-term solution since it lacks the necessary vitamins. Parents in the 50s and 60s gave their infants supplemental vitamins and iron along with this formula, as noted by Dr. Schuman.

Supplies Needed
Clean quart container
13 oz. can of evaporated whole milk (reduced fat, skim, and sweetened condensed milk will not provide enough calories or nutrition)
18–19 oz. of water
2 tablespoons of white granulated sugar or 1 tablespoon of light Karo syrup

Instructions
Combine the above ingredients into the quart container.
Stir until the sugar or light syrup is fully dissolved. The added sugar will help your child break down the proteins in the evaporated milk.
After serving your child, any remaining emergency formula should be refrigerated.
Any unused formula should be discarded after three days.

Congratulations! You have saved the day (or night) and have something safe to feed your baby until you can go to the store and pick up commercial-grade formula.

Warning: Never Use Honey

Do not use honey in place of the sugar or syrup for infants under 12 months old. The risk of botulism is too high.

That’s the one I remember from the ’50s & ’60s. Though I don’t remember supplemental vitamins being common then. I do remember cod liver oil, occasional orange juice, and being fed liver… And, IIRC, brewers yeast extract was added sometimes.

Still, this is about as simple as it gets for “a week or two” emergency supplies in the Prepper Cabinet. Evaporated Condensed Milk, some sweetener. Kero keeps about forever, and table sugar certainly does. Some formulas use Molasses for the added iron, and it too keeps forever. In fact, without even knowing about this, I had the needed condensed milk, molasses and sugar in storage pretty much constantly the last few decades.

They have an odd Rice based variation. Needs vitamins, oils (fats) and iron for anything beyond very short term use, but if it’s all you’ve got… This is basically sweet rice blended. I think you can see where some added oils and vitamins and such as in the above formulas can improve it (provided the kid can take the flavor / digest it).

2. Dairy-Free Emergency Formula for Sensitive Stomachs
Unfortunately, not all infants are able to process the lactose in the cow’s milk that evaporated milk is derived from. For parents with babies who have sensitive stomachs, try this recipe as a dairy-free alternative.

Rice milk has long been used as a supplement for infants and has the added benefit of making your child feel full. It does not, however, contain all of the needed vitamins, proteins, and fats that specialized formulas provide to your child, and it should not be used as a primary source of nutrition.

Supplies Needed
1 cup of cooked rice (can be any type of rice, but brown rice has more nutritional value)
4 cups of water
2 tablespoons of white granulated sugar

Blender Instructions

Combine all ingredients into the blender.
Blend until all ingredients are completely liquefied. It will take around 5 minutes for this process to be completed using a standard blender.
After serving your child, any unused portions should be refrigerated.
Discard all remaining formula after two days.

I note in passing that brown rice also has more “stuff” in it that is hard to digest and blocks some nutrient absorption, so personally I’d stick with white rice for an infant.

This next one is rather complicated, but has 2 major virtues:

1) It has a pointer to a source book.

2) It has an existence proof in that the author says she raised 4 kids on it.

I suppose one could start with the “simple emergency” versions and then work up to the more complicated if this “issue” runs more than a couple of weeks.

https://theambitiousmommy.com/how-to-make-homemade-baby-formula

How to Make Homemade Baby Formula You Feel Safe With
[…]
I’ve Used Homemade Formula for All 4 of My Boys
I ended up using homemade formula for all of my boys until they were one.

Though I’d been hoping to breastfeed each of them for a couple months, I wasn’t able to produce enough milk to keep any but my third son satisfied.

As early as three weeks after they were born, I found that I needed to start adding formula to my milk.

Rather than buying it from the store, I decided to make my own. I was more comfortable with homemade formula because I knew everything going into it.
[…]
Where is the Recipe From?
The recipe I used for my sons’ baby formula is a cow’s milk recipe that has been around for awhile.

It was developed by Sally Morell who has dedicated years of her life to studying nutrition.

After years of her study and research, she published a cookbook filled with healthy recipes to fuel your mind and body.

There’s an embedded photo of the book “Nourishing Traditions”.

Below is a table comparing breastmilk and the homemade formula recipe I used for my boys.

If you want to see the rather long and complicated table, hit the link. Let’s just say it’s pretty darned close. It also gives a credit to the Weston Price folks, so it’s likely derived from their approach. The formula looks to be the same / very similar, so you can hit the link to see details. Here’s the major value add:

Tips to Make Formula Prep Quicker and Easier

Store all ingredients together in your fridge. I have an entire shelf in the door that only has these ingredients.
Start by mixing all dry ingredients (except lactose and gelatin) into a small bowl. This makes so that by the time you’re ready for them, you don’t have to wash and dry your measuring spoons that will have been used for oil.
I keep the recipe taped to my fridge at all times so I don’t need to look it up to verify the quantities. You can also write the quantities for each ingredient on a small paper and tape it to each item
Mix the cream after the formula has been blended. If you add it to the blender before, a small frothy layer of bubbles develops on the top and must be removed and/or stirred into the formula. If it isn’t, it’ll give your baby air bubbles and hurt their stomach.
The formula should be stored in glass bottles, but glass around babies is scary! Use a silicone sleeve to protect the baby bottles from breaking.

Then here’s one from the Foodies side of life:

https://www.food.com/recipe/baby-formula-383047

INGREDIENTS
21 ounces milk
2 -3 tablespoons honey or 2 -3 tablespoons Karo syrup
12 drops fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS
Bring to a boil, cool, strain, and bottle.

I’d note that Honey is not a great idea for babies. However I also note they raise the acidity with lemon juice and then boil, which is one of the ways to kill off botulism spores. So did they get it right? Don’t know… I’d stick with the kero syrup…

Then, for a point from the Fear Porn Promotion side of life, CNN:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/11/health/infant-formula-shortage-misinformation-wellness/index.html

Homemade infant formula can be dangerous. Experts share how to feed your baby through the shortage
Madeline Holcombe
By Madeline Holcombe, CNN

Updated 7:15 PM ET, Wed May 11, 2022

Because, you know, it’s like “food” and eating food can kill you! Then again, so can not eating food, so there’s that…

(CNN)Misinformation about how families can get through the infant formula shortage is fueling concern among pediatricians like Dr. Tanya Altmann.
[…]
Supply chain issues and product recalls have sparked the nationwide shortage of infant formulas. As of early April, seven states reported that between 40% and 50% of baby formula products were out of stock. Manufacturers have said they are producing at full capacity to make as much as they can, but this week 43% of baby formulas were out of stock, according to a new report from Datasembly.

The US Food and Drug Administration is working with Abbott Nutrition, the company involved in the recent recall, to safely resume production and find tools to support the supply of infant formula, according to an FDA spokesperson. But its Michigan facility is likely still about two weeks away from being back online, pending sign off from the FDA, and it will probably be another six to eight weeks until products are back on the shelves, according to a statement from the company.

But hey, it’s only 2 months of a 40% outage of baby formula. Don’t go thinking you might actually NEED to find a way to fill that 40% shortfall yourself. It’s not “safe”. And the implication is that just not feeding 40% of the babies is Just Fine if the alternative if “unapproved” food… /snark; They then go off to an Official Source Of Authority:

Can I make formula at home?

No.

“There is a lot of discussion about making your own formula at home and things of that sort, and I really want to discourage that as much as possible,” Abrams said.
Formulas are complex, and researchers spent years developing the right ratio to give babies the nutrients they need, Altmann said.

Infant formulas must be dense with protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, many of which you can’t buy at the grocery store. And the balance must be precise for babies’ health and development, she added.

“You can see how it would be really hard to duplicate in your own kitchen,” she said.

So, you see, you are just too dumb and too stupid to actually feed food to a baby. It’s complex. It takes things like fat and vitamins and things. You just can’t buy vitamins and fats at the grocery store, no sirree… some of those things might be in a drug store and we all know Drugs Are Bad, after all, the government tells us so…

And that Precise Balance! Why, gosh, if you don’t get an exact titration of just the perfect amount of fat, your baby might get a little over weight, or maybe have to squirm and giggle more to burn up the excess! /sarc; to be sure…

So the absolute answer is that NO! NO_NO_NO!!! YOU can NOT make food for your baby! You have not paid the kick back to the FDA either, have you? What were you thinking! (or perhaps punctuated otherwise is more correct: “What? Were YOU thinking?” with sinister enquirey voice…)

It goes on from there, but I can’t…

https://heartofamum.com/how-to-make-homemade-formula/

How to make homemade formula for your baby
By Beth / Baby / Last Updated on: October 26, 2020

In a very Mum kind of way she covers “issues” in breast feeding and reasons why “formula” might be your choice. Note the date is from well before it might not be a choice… In the following, she’s likely meaning “hydrogenated” and IF that is in a formula, just run away. Hydrogenated fats (or ‘inter-esterified” or “mono & di glycerides”; if they are in it, just avoid it as those “plastic fats” clog up the fat metabolism and are generally not good. In theory, mono and diglycerides ought to be OK, but unfortunately the food industry has chosen to hide trans-fatty ACIDS in them. As they are not TRI-glycerides they are not “fats” so need not be disclosed as trans-fats.)

Why should I consider homemade formula over store-bought?
I won’t go into great lengths as to WHY you really should consider homemade baby formula because you can read all about that here.

But in short, the store-bought formulas are filled with all kinds of ingredients that really should be your baby’s first food or source of nutrition.

They are jam-packed with synthetic ingredients, corn syrup solids, hydronated oils, bad sugars, and so on.

“bad sugars” being also a bit of a loaded term, but yeah, most sugars are not ideal especially for adults, and while lactose or glucose would be best, may not be what’s in the mix.

Again, goes for the “raw milk”, so on that band wagon. I’d stick with the canned myself… “raw milk” was very nice when I had it “fresh from the cow” at about 6 years old. But really, there’s a LOT of potential bacteria you don’t want…

You can either make formula that is raw milk based or bone broth based. Depending on how accessible raw milk is to you in your area, bone broth based could be an easier option for some.

The rest of the formula looks a LOT like the Weston Price formula. So click it if you like. It looks like mostly they just use it to make whey:

Raw milk
Place 2 quarts of milk into a glass container and leave at room temperature for 2-4 days.

If colder it may take longer, if warmer you may achieve desired results quicker. Once the milk separates you know it is ready.

Once the curds and whey have separated, pour into a lined strainer and set over a bowl. Cover with a plate and leave it overnight.

The whey will strain through the cheesecloth or thin towel and by morning time you will about 5 cups of whey.

Yes, it is very hard to make whey from pasteurized milk by letting it sit to have the lactic acid form. But all you really need to do is put a bit of vinegar in it (look up cheese making) and it will curdle and “break” in hours. ( I did it once when Dad was showing me how to make cottage cheese). Easier, faster, and without the raw milk bacteria issue.

The real reason for pointing at this one is the Bone Broth method:

Bone broth based homemade formula
If your baby is very sensitive to dairy or you don’t have easy access to local raw milk, a bone broth-based formula is a great dairy free alternative.

A lot of people turn to soy when they are dealing with milk allergies and soy is the worst alternative you can offer your baby.

This homemade hypoallergenic meat-based formula is a great option and I bet your baby will THRIVE on it.

Ingredients
3 3/4 cups of bone broth (preferably organic) You can get it at Bonafide Provisions or at Amazon
2 oz grass-fed liver. Either beef, bison or lamb
1/4 cup of liquid whey. You can leave this out if your baby cannot tolerate it. Use the same recipe above for the whey.
5 tbsp lactose
1/4 tsp bifidobacterium infantis
1/2 tsp high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil
1 tsp expeller-expressed sunflower oil
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 tsp acerola powder

We have the same acerola for vitamins and minerals, the same oils for essential fatty acids and gross calories. Lactose for the sweetener / calories. Optional whey. Then that liver… Yeah, I know, full of vitamins, minerals, all sorts of great stuff… At least they cook it in this one:

Instructions
This homemade baby formula recipe makes 36 fluid oz.

Cut liver into small pieces and simmer gently in broth until the meat is cooked through.
Pour liquid into a blender and liquefy the mixture.
Let the broth and liver cool, and then proceed to add all the remaining ingredients.
Store in clean glass jars. Mason jars are a great option.
When serving, stir formula well and heat by placing the bottle into warm water or use a baby bottle warmer.
If you are anything like me and like to learn visually, here is a video of both of these homemade baby formula options being made.

Now my big takeaway from having fed kids a lot, and having been one, and having survived the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, etc (and IMHO the ’70s were the highest risk…) is pretty simple. Kids are NOT a stochiometric chemical process. They have self corrective mechanisms, feedbacks of many kinds both positive and negative, and they are pretty darned resilient after a few million years of evolution “in the rough”. You do NOT need “everything just so” to be “good enough”.

Heck, I survived unlimited cokes, cakes, and donuts as an adolescent… and after a lifetime of being raised on the “horrible” natural real butter, fried meats, BBQ meats, packaged cereal, and even beer / whiskey, I’ve made it to Medicare age.

So I think it is highly likely that a baby will do better on evaporated milk with some sugar added, and maybe even some bone broth with liver puree and added fats; than they would on the alternative of “nothing”. And that IS the alternative. These mothers are not breast feeding or they would not be having this issue with lack of formula. They’ve got no wet-nurse on speed dial. The formula is NOT on the store shelves and will not be for a good while. It’s DIY or nothing until there’s supply back again. So saying “Don’t even think about DIY!” without saying what is the alternative is really really lame. Oh, and “ask your pediatrician” is pretty lame too. Yeah, ran out at midnight, nothing in the local grocery store, so yeah, just don’t feed your baby until a week later when you can get an appointment… that’s the ticket /sarc;.

“Never let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

For those without a baby in arms, but who might want to be prepared “for that day” when everything goes sideways and there’s an infant who needs something, anything edible, NOW, this is the easy prep that you can have on hand, and can use for your morning coffee, tea, or making cookies for that matter, if no hungry baby shows up:

https://www.trueprepper.com/emergency-baby-formula/

How to Make Emergency Baby Formula
January 17, 2019 Rusty Collins Baby, Food Storage, Formula, How To
An emergency can be a stressful time, especially with a newborn. Running out of baby formula or breast milk can make it even more stressful. Luckily, there is an easy way to make emergency baby formula with pantry items that have a long shelf life. The shelf life is key, since it lets us stay prepared without having to constantly stock expiring formula.

As a dad, having my infant prepared for emergencies is a priority. Luckily, Mom is around and provides breast milk whenever he is hungry. That is not always the case for everyone and some moms are forced to rely on formula. If there is a disruption in our food supply and the supermarket cannot stock enough formula, or if parents cannot reach the supermarket to get formula- what happens to the hungry babies? There may be some hope in the pantry…

The Recipe for Evaporated Milk Baby Formula
Baby formula is made in high-tech labs and can’t be reproduced, right? Wrong.

Widely available baby formula was not available until the 1950s. Baby formula has been used since the 1920s. So what did everyone do for those 30 years in between? They made their own emergency baby formula.

The baby formula has a basic three-ingredient recipe:

13 OZ evaporated milk
19 OZ boiled water
2 TBSP corn syrup (or sugar)

The ingredients are widely available, and you can even stock up on evaporated milk online. Both evaporated milk and sugar can last in the pantry for at least six months, which should carry you through all but the worst case emergencies.

The corn syrup was meant to stave off constipation. These days, health services suggest using sugar instead (Alaska DHSS) in homemade baby formulas. You can also tweak the amount of sugar based on your child’s needs.

To follow the recipe, you simply combine the ingredients and thoroughly mix. If your infant is larger, you will want to proportionally increase the ingredients, making sure the ratios stay the same. This recipe helps babies gain weight, but does miss out on some of the vitamins and nutrients store-bought formula provides. Vitamin supplements can always be added to the recipe to make up for any deficits.

Now I’d also note that most of the time evaporated milk is a bit richer and better if made “one to one”. So I do a can of milk, and a can of water, or sometimes even just put it in a 24 oz jar and top up the water. Having it a bit richer is going to be more nutrient dense. Less water to pee out. So if short of water in an emergency, consider that.

I’d also note that you could add some butter, or coconut oil, if gross calories are too low, and IF you have some brewers yeast extract, that could help the vitamin profile. Essentially, follow “sort of” the “raw milk” formulas, but with substituted reconstituted evaporated milk.

I’d also point out that, while it can be harder to find, I’ve stocked evaporated goat milk. So those with “cow milk” issues, just know that Myenberg makes both evaporated and powdered goat milk. I’ve bought both from time to time and they are good products.

Subscribe to feed

Advertisement