Top 5 Ways to Reduce Fluoride Exposure from Infant Formula
1) Do NOT Use Fluoridated Water to Prepare Formula
If you need to use formula, the single most important thing you can do to reduce your child’s fluoride burden is to use non-fluoridated water. Fluoridated water, which contains 700 to 1200 parts per billion (ppb) of fluoride, is by far the largest contributor to fluoride intake among babies receiving formula. Make sure, therefore, that you use a water source that is low in fluoride. We recommend a fluoride level below 100 ppb (which is the equivalent of 0.1 parts per million, ppm).2) Use a Formula Made from Cow Milk
As with human breast milk, fresh cow’s milk contains low levels of fluoride (less than 70 ppb). While these levels are increased when cow’s milk is processed into powdered or liquid-concentrate formula, they are generally lower than the fluoride levels found in soy-based formulas. Milk-based formulas are therefore preferable to soy-based formulas.3) Avoid Liquid-Concentrate Soy Formulas
Among soy formulas, liquid concentrate formulas have the highest levels of fluoride. So, if you need to use a soy formula, it is generally best to use a powdered formula. This rule does not apply, however, if you have to use fluoridated tap water to reconstitute the formula. If you have no choice but to use fluoridated tap water, then liquid concentrate is better than the powdered variety because the concentrate requires less water to be added.4) If Using Bottled Water, Make Sure It Has Low Fluoride
If you decide to prepare your child’s formula with bottled water, make sure that the bottled water contains low levels of fluoride. Fortunately, most bottled water contains very little fluoride, so it is not difficult to find a brand that is safe. There are, however, some exceptions to this rule. Some bottled waters (e.g., “Dannon Fluoride to Go” and “Nursery Water”) actually add fluoride to the water, while some bottled waters (e.g., “Trinity Springs”) get their water from deep in the ground, which can have high levels of naturally occurring fluoride. To see the fluoride levels in popular brands sold in the United States, click here. If the brand you are looking for is not on this list, make sure to call the company and ask them for the level. We recommend that you select a brand that has less than 100 ppb (which is the equivalent of 0.1 parts per million, ppm).5) If Using a Water Filter, Make Sure It Removes Fluoride
Most popular water filters do NOT remove fluoride. This includes Brita and Pur filters (these filters use “activated carbon” technology, which does not remove fluoride). The only water filters that remove fluoride are those that use “reverse osmosis,” “activated alumina,” or deionization (using an ion exchange resin). If you are using a water filter, therefore, make sure it uses one of these technologies, and make sure to properly maintain the filter to ensure its efficacy.
Fluoride Levels in Milk & Soy Formulas:
When looking at the data in the following table, it is important to
keep in mind that these are the fluoride levels in the formula itself.
They do not include the
fluoride that would be added when reconstituting the formula with
water. Fluoridated drinking water contains 700 to 1,200 ppb. Thus, if
the formulas are prepared with fluoridated water, the concentration of
the formula will be greatly increased. (Zohoori 2011) We recommend that
you use a water containing less than 100 ppb fluoride to prepare the
formula.| Fluoride Levels in Infant Formulas* | ||
| Formula Type | Van Winkle (1995) |
Siew (2009) |
| Ready to Use (milk-based) |
170 ppb (40 to 555 ppb) |
150 ppb (80 to 230 ppb) |
| Liquid Concentrate (milk-based) |
120 ppb (40 to 190 ppb) |
270 ppb (70 to 480 ppb) |
| Powdered (milk-based) |
140 ppb (50 to 280 ppb) |
120 ppb (30 to 270 ppb) |
| Ready to Use (soy-based) |
300 ppb (170 to 380 ppb) |
210 ppb (130 to 320 ppb) |
| Liquid Concentrate (soy-based) |
240 ppb (40 to 470 ppb) |
500 ppb (410 to 570 ppb) |
| Powdered (soy-based) |
240 ppb (190 to 280 ppb) |
160 ppb (60 to 290 ppb) |
| * Prepared or reconstituted with low-fluoride water (<20 fluoride="" ppb="" td=""> | ||
Fluoride is poison. Fluoride was poison yesterday. Fluoride is poison today. Fluoride will be poison tomorrow. Unless you test the water you are adding to the infant formula it is impossible to tell it's concentration. Reverse osmosis filters do a good job at removing fluoride from the water. Most of these filters have an activated carbon filter in line before the reverse osmosis membrane with another activated carbon filter post. These filters need to be monitored for pass through of fluoride but many clog before this is a problem. It would seem the most reasonable approach would be to stop putting the poison in the water in the first place. "When in doubt get it out."
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