Homemade formulas should not be used, says Nick Duy, a consumer safety officer in FDA's Office of Special Nutritionals. Homemade formulas based on cows' milk don't meet all of an infant's nutritional needs, and cow's milk protein that has not been cooked or processed is difficult for an infant to digest. In addition, the high protein and electrolyte (salt) content of cow's milk may put a strain on an infant's immature kidneys. Substituting evaporated milk for whole milk may make the homemade formula easier to digest because of the effect of processing on the protein, but the formula is still nutritionally inadequate and still may stress the kidneys.
Today's infant formula is a very controlled, high-tech product that can't be duplicated at home, says Udall.
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