Earlier today, the National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration’s Request for Information on infant formula nutrient requirements. This RFI is a part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s Operation Stork Speed, which is undertaking the first comprehensive review of infant formula nutrition standards in more than two decades.
NOPA’s comments emphasize the importance of grounding any updated standards in rigorous, evidence-based science and highlight the essential role that seed oils play in infant development. Every infant formula sold in the United States contains omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils because they provide the most effective and bioavailable sources of essential fatty acids. These nutrients—particularly omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids—are critical for brain, eye, immune, and overall healthy growth in infants.
“We welcome the administration’s transparency and the opportunity for stakeholder engagement in this important process,” said Devin Mogler, President and CEO of NOPA. “The science clearly demonstrates that vegetable oils provide the essential fatty acids infants need for healthy development. Our members are committed to ensuring that American families have access to safe, nutritious infant formula that reflects the strongest scientific evidence available.”
While supporting the administration’s effort to revisit outdated standards, NOPA’s comments also call for greater alignment between U.S. infant formula regulations and internationally recognized benchmarks, including the CODEX Alimentarius and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Such alignment would strengthen consumer confidence while ensuring continued use of domestically-sourced, safe, and nutritious vegetable oils in U.S. infant formula.
