Articles

By Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Administrative Rabbinic Coordinator

Q. Are all infant formulas kosher?

A. Infant formulas provide babies with the nutrition they need and generally contain 4 groups of components:  protein (typically milk, but can also be from soy or rice), fat (usually from vegetable oil), carbohydrates (often lactose, but can also be corn syrup or other items), and a large mix of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, etc.  All these components are potentially kosher-sensitive and, therefore, infant formula requires hashgachah.  We are blessed that in the United States just about every variety of infant formula is reputably certified, which provides parents with many excellent options for what to feed their children.  The same is not true in certain other parts of the world, and people living there are forced to rely on less reliable methods of determining which formulas are kosher.

Even in the United States, there is a class of formulas which are not certified, even though they are made by companies whose other products are all kosher-certified.  These are hypoallergenic milk-based formulas (e.g., Nutramigen, Alimentum) which are “predigested”, so that they can be tolerated by certain babies with many sensitivities.  They are not certified kosher, because a non-kosher enzyme is what “digests” the protein in this formula, but all other ingredients are the same kosher ones as are used in the other formulas these companies produce.  From a halachic standpoint, the non-kosher enzyme is batel, and the formula may be used, but – as a matter of policy – the certifying agencies choose not to label it as “kosher”, since it does contain non-kosher ingredients.

There are some children who cannot use standard formula or one of the predigested ones noted above, and their only choice is to use specialized formulas made in other countries without kosher certification.  Parents faced with this type of situation should consult with their Rabbi, as in many cases he will tell them to use the formula, based on the needs of the child.

The two main classes of infant formula as those which are milk-based, and others which are soy-based.  The milk-based formulas are obviously dairy, and the standard ones are not chalav Yisroel.  Some families which only use chalav Yisroel will, nonetheless, use these formulas, based on the assumption that the infant does not have to avoid chalav stam.  Others will go to the effort and expense to purchase versions of these formulas which are specially made with chalav Yisroel milk (and lactose).  In contrast, soy-based formulas are typically completely free of dairy components.  In some cases, they are produced in a manner that allows them to be labeled as “pareve”, but other times they share equipment with the milk-based formulas and are labeled “DE” (dairy equipment) or “D” (dairy).

The use of infant formula for Pesach is somewhat more complicated.  Just about every formula contains kitnios, which means that it cannot be certified as kosher for Pesach.  At the same time the halacha is clear that infants are permitted to eat kitnios on Pesach…but they cannot eat chametz.  There is no way for consumers to independently determine if an infant formula contains chametz, and, therefore, for many years the OU – which certifies these formulas year-round – has investigated the formulas and provided the public with information on which ones are acceptable to use.  Since these formulas contain kitnios, consumers should be careful to keep the formula and baby bottles away from their Pesach food and dishes.

This article first appeared in the Let’s Talk Kashrus column, Yated Ne’eman, August 9, 2024.