Understanding FATS + SEED OILS in Infant Formula
Feeding your baby comes with lots of questions, especially when it comes to the ingredients in formula. One of the most talked-about—and sometimes misunderstood—are fats and oils. Here’s what to know, backed by more than a century of studying infant nutrition.
Fats are essential for your baby’s health. Similar to breast milk, about 50% of the calories in formula come from fat. These fats give babies the energy to grow, help build their immune system, and fuel their rapidly developing brains.
Why are fats included in infant formula?
Babies need fats for many reasons. Essential fatty acids, like linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), help build the outer layer of your baby’s cells and play a critical role in brain and eye development. They’re called “essential” because babies can’t make them on their own. In other words, babies must get these fats from breast milk or formula.
Formulas are designed to mimic the fat profile of breast milk by including a precise mix of oils that deliver an appropriate right balance of fatty acids to support your baby’s health.
What are seed oils and why are they used?
Seed oils are oils extracted from the seeds of plants such as sunflower, soybean, safflower, and canola. That’s why people often call them “vegetable oils.” These plant-based oils are common in many of the foods we eat every day, from salad dressings to baked goods.
In infant formula, these oils are not just fillers. They’re carefully selected for their role in delivering the essential fatty acids babies need for healthy development. Nutrition scientists have studied them for decades and trust them for their safety and effectiveness in supporting growth and development during a baby’s first year.
While there are newer oils like avocado, sesame, or walnut being added to adult diets, these haven’t been studied enough in infants to be used in formula. Infant formulas only use fats that are proven safe and beneficial for babies, and are continually reviewed by scientists and pediatric nutrition experts to make sure they meet babies’ needs.
How are the oils in formula selected and balanced?
Each oil used in formula serves a specific purpose. They’re intentionally chosen to work together with the other ingredients. This careful balance helps promote the absorption of nutrients like calcium. It also supports comfortable digestion, including softer stools.
The fats in formula aren't chosen at random. They’re part of a scientifically designed blend based on decades of research. This careful design aims to mimic the fatty acids in breast milk as closely as possible, helping ensure babies get what they need to grow and thrive.
Are these oils safe for my baby?
Yes. All fats and oils used in infant formula are strictly regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Each ingredient must meet high safety, quality, and nutritional standards before it ever reaches your baby.
The Mead Johnson Nutrition Institute has spent over a century studying infant nutrition—including the role of fats and seed oils—and continues to build on the latest science.
Bottom line
Seed oils used in infant formula are safe. They’re included to give babies the essential fats they need for healthy growth and development when breast milk isn’t available. These oils are:
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Strictly regulated by the FDA to meet high standards for safety and nutrition
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Backed by decades of research into how fats and essential fatty acids support babies’ brain development, immune function, and healthy digestion
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Chosen with precision to deliver the right balance of nutrients that babies need to grow and thrive