Baby deaths with soy milk

[jnh783]

This was probably discussed before, but what are your opinions on this?
http://nourishedmagazine.com.au/blog/articles/vegan-parents-jailed-for-babys-death

[Satya]

such a tragedy :( i think most non-dairy beverages state: "Soy milk should never be given to infants in place of formula" on every box. i don't think veganism has much to do with stupid parents.

[cstadt]

Almond milk boxes say that same thing... "Not to be used as infant formula."

Some people are just ignorant. Babies don't need the same things adults do.

[jnh783]

Which vegan-friendly formula should they have given the baby? Like many people they may have assumed soy based milk was the only choice, I know I've seen pretty bad things written about soy based formulas.

[froggythefrog]

Breast milk is probably the best "formula" you can give a baby if possible. (And mother's breast milk is vegan for the baby.)

Check out: http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/pregnancy.htm

[Satya]

if i weren't producing enough milk for my new born, i would, oh i dunno, ask my pediatrician what to do? :idea: not only did they starve a baby, but they make vegans look like quacks and veganism like quackery :whack:

[turtlegirl]

Very few women have true medical low supply, in case anyone was worried. ;) The parents absolutely should have consulted with a doc.

And also, that woman's diet likely had NOTHING to do with her low supply issues. Here's a link about veg diets and breastfeeding. http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/vegetarian.html

[Fyvel]

Soy milk didn't kill the baby, veganism didn't kill the baby. Stupid parents killed the baby.

Omnivores starve their kids all the time, sadly enough. Nobody blames it on their diet :rolleyes:

[SomebodyElse]

Hmmm. "Nourished Magazine"?
*checks article for references to Nina Planck, Sally Fallon, or Weston A. Price*

Found it!

To educate yourself further and take action against Soy Infant Formulas and Soy Milk manufacturer’s false health claims go to New Zealand’s SoyOnlineService (http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz/) and the Weston A Price Foundation (http://www.westonaprice.org/mythstruths/mtsoy.html) or contact me through my website, WholeSoyStory.com (http://www.wholesoystory.com/).
:flush: :flush: :flush:

[Fyvel]

Hmmm. "Nourished Magazine"?
*checks article for references to Nina Planck, Sally Fallon, or Weston A. Price*

Found it!

:flush: :flush: :flush:

Yup, exactly. And from the linked article:


About the Author...

Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN, earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati and is board-certified as a clinical nutritionist (CCN) by the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists in Dallas. She is the author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food published in March 2005 by New Trends Publishing. She designs diet, supplement and lifestyle plans for private clients and is a dynamic speaker and seminar leader who challenges and entertains her audiences with leading-edge information on clinically proven ways to prevent and reverse disease and attain optimum health and maximum longevity. For more information, answers to frequently asked questions or to contact Dr. Daniel, visit her two websites WholeSoyStory.com and SoyFreeSolutions.com

[USFveggie]

The tragedy is that this baby died because its vegan parents thought they were doing a good thing for their baby by choosing organic soy milk instead of a commercial soy formula. The mother had clearly tried to breast feed as well, but like many vegans she had an inadequate supply of breast milk because of the limitations of her diet and depletion of her own nutritional stores because of pregnancy. Supplementing breast milk with soy milk and apple juice could not support the life and growth of her baby boy.


Yeah because omnivor mothers produce vast amounts of breast milk, and they would never have trouble producing enough breast milk. How ridiculous, I mean its obviously and completely biased.

[Satya]

Soy milk didn't kill the baby, veganism didn't kill the baby. Stupid parents killed the baby.

Omnivores starve their kids all the time, sadly enough. Nobody blames it on their diet :rolleyes:

and many starve their kids nutritionally, while over feeding them crap. obese children :no:

[osito]

Which vegan-friendly formula should they have given the baby? Like many people they may have assumed soy based milk was the only choice, I know I've seen pretty bad things written about soy based formulas.

the American Association of Pediatrics says that soy formulas are just as good as cows milk formulas

[jnh783]

Its probably other propaganda I read about soy formula being a danger. It is hard to know what to believe, isn't it?
I am planning to have a baby within the next 5 years and I want to know exactly what I'm doing before it happens. I plan to breast feed obviously but it is the time after that that needs to be considered.

[turtlegirl]

Its probably other propaganda I read about soy formula being a danger. It is hard to know what to believe, isn't it?
I am planning to have a baby within the next 5 years and I want to know exactly what I'm doing before it happens. I plan to breast feed obviously but it is the time after that that needs to be considered.

Just curious about what you mean by "the time after that needs to be considered". The AAP recommends breastfeeding for at least a year, and then encourages continued breastfeeding for as long as mother and baby desire, and WHO recommends nursing for a full two years. After two years, most docs agree that children no longer have a need for a full fat milk, so they are able to drink whatever. No need for formula. :) No worries!

[Fromper]

Wow. I'm shocked that people are still writing new articles about this. This story was all over the place months ago, or maybe it was last year.

I tried posting a comment as a response to the article, but it didn't show up. Does anyone know if they read the comments before making them public, or is their web page broken so you can't post comments at all?

--Fromper
:juggle:

[karenlovessnow]

My first baby was raised on soy FORMULA...and I knew absolutely nothing about vegetarianism/veganism back then. My second baby also was on a dairy free formula. The key is soy formula, not soy milk. Unfortunately, some new parents don't get the difference.

[panthera]

Turtlegirl, I noticed your House avatar. Do you remember an episode where a raw vegan couple is "starving" their baby? House calls them idiots, but when they protest that they checked with a nutritionist, he realizes that something else is wrong. So it started out as a typical "vegans starve baby" episode, but they were vindicated. Of course, people will probably only remember that their baby was sick. Oh well.

[turtlegirl]

Turtlegirl, I noticed your House avatar. Do you remember an episode where a raw vegan couple is "starving" their baby? House calls them idiots, but when they protest that they checked with a nutritionist, he realizes that something else is wrong. So it started out as a typical "vegans starve baby" episode, but they were vindicated. Of course, people will probably only remember that their baby was sick. Oh well.


I do recall that episode (big House fan here!). It really is too bad that families in general can't get better information about nutrition for babies. Even peds/docs don't really have much training about nutrition/breastfeeding.

[Fromper]

My comment finally showed up on their site, along with a stupid response to it. I just responded to the response.

--Fromper
:juggle:

[Mrrple]

Nice responses Fromper!

[Pandora]

Another bad advertisement for vegans that will make omni's go; "see? it is unnatural!" gahhh, indeed, stupid parents.
Babies need mothers milk, point.

[zoebird]

the real issue with ALL non-human milks is that they aren't the right nutrient profile for infants. that is why for those infants who do not have access to human milk, a "formula" is given.

formulas vary based on the availability of resources in a given culture; and of course ours are industrially made as well as having the ability to make them ourselves with a wide variety of additions to 'boost' the nutrient profile of non-human milk.

thus, it is recommended to give soy formula, rather than soy milk. if the child gets nutrition from formula or breastmilk, and perhaps even other foods, then giving soy milk as a beverage isn't a problem. but if it's a sole form of nutrition, then it is a problem because it doesn't have enough nutrients.

but that's pretty plain and simple and has nothing to do with veganism per se. i mean, you couldn't say that this child died because of veganism, because plenty of vegan parents breastfeed or use soy formula and have healthy, happy babies.

there is a minority of people from all walks of life, though, who do not provide adequate nutrition, usually due to some form of ignorance or confusion about what is nutritionally appropriate for their babies.

sad really.

[nookle]

I breastfed my little girl until 11 and a half months or so, and then gave her soy formula until about 16 months - I don't think it was vegan though. She loved it and had no problems.

[nookle]

You know, actually - it's like someone starving someone by locking them up and feeding them only bread and water, and then blaming it on the nutritional value of the bread and water. :think: