Two vegan parents have been convicted of murder and given life sentences in prison for starving their 6-week-old baby to death.

Though the parents may have thought they were doing the right thing, they were feeding their child a completely inadequate combination of soy milk and apple juice along with a small, but insufficient, amount of breast milk.

Now, soy experts are again calling for clear and proper warning labels on all soy milk products -- indicating that it should NEVER be used in place of infant formula -- following this and several other babies' hospitalizations or deaths under similar circumstances.

Soy infant formula, which currently constitutes 25 percent of the bottle-fed market, is required by law to be heavily supplemented with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids that are not found in brands of soy milk. Though it does not pose an immediate danger to babies, as is the case with soy milk, the Israeli Health Ministry, French Food Agency, British Dietetic Associations and other government bodies have warned parents and pediatricians that it poses health risks to the developing baby and should only be used as a last resort.

WholeSoyStory.com May 11, 2007

 Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Soy milk does not contain the nutrients that children need for their growth. In fact, the idea that soy milk is healthy, in and of itself, is a complete myth. Feeding your baby soy milk will lead to severe vitamin, mineral, fatty acid and amino acid deficiencies that can clearly be deadly.

Soy infant formula is not a healthy alternative; it is one of the worst foods you can give your child.

Soy formula poses some serious health hazards, including:

* ADD/ADHD, brain damage, and altered behavior due to very high levels of manganese 
* Thyroid disease and interference with proper reproductive development due to elevated isoflavone levels; a soy-fed baby receives the equivalent of five birth control pills' worth of estrogen every day, and they have isoflavone levels 13,000 to 22,000 times higher than normal  * Speech disturbances and reduced brain function, as it contains more than 1,000 percent more aluminum than conventional milk-based formulas

Please, never, ever feed your baby (or any child under the age of 18) soy infant formula or soy milk. And remember, this includes all organic varieties as well.

What you should feed your babies is the food nature intended: breast milk. Studies have also shown that babies who are breastfed exclusively have better functioning immune systems, as well as added protection against:

* Heart disease 
* Immune system cancers such as lymphoma 
* Asthma and allergies 
* Respiratory infections 
* Eczema 
* Type 1 and type 2 diabetes

If for some reason breast feeding is absolutely not an option, you should take a look at this recipe for a healthy infant formula.

Related Articles:

How Safe is Soy Infant Formula?

Why Soy Can Damage Your Health

Soy-Bean Crisis

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