FDA warns Nestle on nutrient levels in infant formula

Tuesday, December 12th 2006, 2:52 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) The Food and Drug Administration warned Nestle SA on Tuesday that sample testing revealed one of its infant formulas contained slightly less calcium and phosphorous than required by law.

FDA testing of the sample found that levels of the two nutrients also fell short of those listed on the label of the company's Good Start Infant Formula with Iron, 13 fluid ounces, according to the November 27th warning letter. The FDA posted the letter Tuesday on its Website.

The FDA tested a sample of the formula following May inspections of a Nestle plant in Eau Claire, Wis.

The FDA gave Nestle 15 business days to lay out how it would fix the deviations and prevent them from recurring. The letter did not indicate how widespread any such problems might be.

An FDA spokeswoman did not immediately return a message left seeking comment.

The company performed its own tests on samples from the same batch of formula and found they contained the proper levels of all required nutrients, including the two flagged by the FDA, Nestle
Nutrition said in a statement. Nestle is now working with FDA to understand the discrepancy in the test results, it added.

Nestle Nutrition is part of Switzerland's Nestle SA.