Mast introduces legislation to keep infant formula safe

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Brian Mast (FL-21) today introduced legislation to establish enforceable federal safety standards for infant formula-giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) additional tools to hold manufacturers accountable and giving parents assurance that what they feed their newborns meet a federal standard. The bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require the FDA to establish and enforce maximum contaminant levels in infant formula.

"Parents should never have to wonder whether what they are feeding their newborn is safe," said Congressman Brian Mast. "I've always said that if you wouldn't put it in the bathtub with your kid, it shouldn't be in our water. That goes for formula, too. The testing shows our formula supply is in good shape, and this bill makes sure it stays that way-putting specific, enforceable limits on the contaminants we don't want anywhere near our kids, and holding manufacturers accountable for meeting them," he added.

In April 2026, the FDA reported the largest examination of chemical contaminants in infant formula ever conducted in the United States with more than 120,000 data points from more than 300 formula samples. Thankfully, the results were largely favorable, but complacency cannot be tolerated. By putting enforceable federal standards behind that testing, it gives the FDA the force of law to ensure infant formula continues to meet the highest standards of safety as a habit of routine, not chance.