The murder conviction, in May, of vegan parents whose six week old baby died of starvation underscores the dangers to infants of vegan ideology. To supplement the mother’s inadequate supply of breast milk, the parents had fed their son soy milk and apple juice. The baby was only 3 1„2 pounds when it died of starvation in April 2004.
Soy milk should never be given to infants in place of formula. In 1990, the FDA issued a warning about the use of soy milk for infants stating that it is ‘grossly lacking in the nutrients needed for infants’ and asked all manufacturers to put warning labels on soy milks so that they would not be used as formula substitutes. Yet most makers of soy milk put warning labels on the package in very tiny print, if at all.
The Atlanta conviction follows two other cases of vegan parents found guilty of the deaths of their babies. Previously, a New York couple was convicted of murder and a Florida couple of manslaughter. Many more babies, however, have been malnourished on soy milk because of their parents’ vegan ideology.
In 1990 the FDA investigated after a two month old girl in California was hospitalized with severe malnutrition. Her parents had fed her EdenSoy brand soy milk instead of infant formula. Because of this and a similar incident in Arkansas involving the SoyMoo brand of soy milk, the FDA issued a warning on June 13, 1990. Since then, most brands of soy milk – but not EdenSoy – include warning labels in tiny print on their packages.
The FDA told manufacturers to put warning labels on packages of soy milk for a very good reason. Soy milk can put an infant’s life in jeopardy. The myth that soy is a health food has led many parents – particularly vegans who use no animal products to believe that soy milk is a complete and nourishing food not only for adults but for babies and children. It is not, and severe vitamin, mineral, fatty acid and amino amino acid deficiencies will occur. That’s why supplements are required by law to be added to soy infant formula.
The tragedy is that this baby died because its vegan parents thought they were doing a good thing for their baby by choosing organic soy milk instead of a commercial soy formula. The mother had clearly tried to breast feed as well, but like many vegans she had an inadequate supply of breast milk because of the limitations of her diet and depletion of her own nutritional stores because of pregnancy. Supplementing breast milk with soy milk and apple juice could not support the life and growth of her baby boy.
In Fall 2003, soy formula caused the deaths of three babies and brain damage to at least four other babies in Israel. The infants were using Remedia brand formula that was seriously deficient in vitamin B1 because its manufacturer had failed to add it. Soy milk – as was given by the convicted vegan parents to the dead baby – does not contain added B1 or other of the essential supplements needed to nourish growing babies.
The deaths of the three Israeli infants from the improperly manufactured soy formula in 2003 led the Israeli Health Ministry to form a 13 member committee of pediatricians, oncologists, toxicologists and other health experts to investigate soy formula and soy foods. In July 2005, the Ministry issued a health advisory, in which it warned that babies should not receive soy formula (except as a last resort) and that children up to age 18 should not eat soy foods or drink soy milk more than once per day to a maximum of three times per week. The Ministry was concerned about many health issues, including adverse effects on fertility and increased cancer risk. The UK, Swiss and New Zealand governments have also warned that soy infant formula should only be used as a last resort.
And soy milk should never be used at all.
The myth that soy is a health food can have tragic consequences for infants and children. Here in the U.S. soy milk sales are experiencing double digit growth and soy infant formula now represents 25 percent of the bottle fed market. It’s time that the soy industry act responsibly and put prominent warning labels on its all products about the dangers to babies before more tragedies occur.”
It is irresponsible for soy milk manufacturers not to prominently place warning labels on their products, alerting vegan parents to the very real danger of feeding these products to their infants. How many unnecessary and tragic deaths will occur before these actions are taken?
To educate yourself further and take action against Soy Infant Formulas and Soy Milk manufacturer’s false health claims go to New Zealand’s SoyOnlineService and the Weston A Price Foundation or contact me through my website, WholeSoyStory.com.
About the Author...
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN, earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences and Anti-Aging Therapies from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati and is board-certified as a clinical nutritionist (CCN) by the International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists in Dallas. She is the author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food published in March 2005 by New Trends Publishing. She designs diet, supplement and lifestyle plans for private clients and is a dynamic speaker and seminar leader who challenges and entertains her audiences with leading-edge information on clinically proven ways to prevent and reverse disease and attain optimum health and maximum longevity. For more information, answers to frequently asked questions or to contact Dr. Daniel, visit her two websites WholeSoyStory.com and SoyFreeSolutions.com
Jul 26th, 2008 at 2:50 am
While it’s tragic that this baby died, I find your reporting in this case to be incredibly biased.
This infant didn’t die because of soy milk, and he didn’t die because of his parents’ veganism. He died because his parents are morons. Nothing less, nothing more.
Obviously, the healthiest thing to feed an infant is breast milk. Contrary to what you imply, most vegan mothers have no problem generating enough breast milk for their babies after childbirth. The fact that this particular woman had problems with that has nothing to do with her veganism. That problem can happen to anyone, regardless of diet.
Given the lack of breast milk available, there were still vegan options that these parents could have used that are safe and healthy for babies. That they didn’t consult a pediatrician or nutritionist, but instead fed their baby things that don’t meet the needs of an infant, is entirely their own fault. Again, veganism and soy milk aren’t to blame for the stupidity of the parents.
You also mention that soy milk usually contains warning labels that it’s not good for infants. Infants less than a year old aren’t supposed to get whole dairy milk, either, but I don’t recall ever seeing a warning label on that. Nor do I recall ever seeing a warning label on apple juice, which is the other thing these parents were giving their baby. Should every liquid in the supermarket carry a statement of whether or not it’s safe for infants, or should we assume that parents are supposed to have brains?
Also, for the sake of full disclosure, does your anti-soy book mention exactly which of the soy market’s competitors signs your paychecks?
Jul 26th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
So you agree soy is not good due to lack of nutrients. And you state the parents are morons for not knowing this, despite incredible ’soy is healthy’ propaganda which is everywhere. Personally I can’t imagine any parent anywhere deliberately wanting to starve their child to death when there are plenty of vegan alternatives as you say. On the whole, an interesting rant, Frumpy.. sorry, Fromper. :-)
Jul 26th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Karen - “So you agree soy is not good due to lack of nutrients.”
Where did you get that from my post? Like most foods, soy is perfectly healthy in moderation, though it’s not the miracle food that the soy industry tries to claim, nor is it the root of all evil as this author claims.
But soy milk is definitely unhealthy FOR INFANTS. Most foods are. And most parents are smart enough to ask their pediatrician or other experts what they should be feeding a newborn.
My point is that this author used this tragic case of parental stupidity to advance her anti-soy agenda and sell her anti-soy book, despite the fact that soy wasn’t the problem here.
She also took a swing at veganism along the way, although she was more subtle about it than most of the articles I’ve seen about this tragedy. Once again, veganism isn’t the problem, either. There are plenty of healthy vegan parents out there with healthy vegan babies.
Jul 27th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Thank you for your clarification Fromper. I disagree with much of what you say, but will prod you no more. :-) We could be here arguing and nit-picking for the next week otherwise!
Take care,
Karen.
Jul 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I am not sure what Karen could possibly be disagreeing about here. Facts are facts separating veganism and soymilk from pure and outright stupidity at the hands of supposed vegan parents. Usually when you see and hear stuff like this, the people in question aren’t what they appear to be. It usually take a lot of researching and thinking things over when before the vast majority of vegans become vegan. So, in that respect I doubt the couple were truly vegan or vegetarian for that matter. Is is a fact that many are in error. Vegans are label readers to the core and information hounds, so this is not typical of a true well versed and responsible vegan. Most vegans are serious about nutrition and health and these parents can’t be classified as the same.
Like mentioned from Fromper, it should be common knowledge that infants lack the proper digestive abilities for any liquid that is not formulated specifically for them and their special needs for proper growth and development. Which is why it is contraindicated to give a newborn juice or water, because their system cannot support or digest it either. If ANY licensed medical or health profession was not clear or did not correct their errors before this tragedy happened, then they should have their license or certifications stripped. Makes you wonder if this couple was even seeing a pediatrician, because they (drs and nurses during well child visits) are always asking what, how much, how often the baby eats, poops, pees, and etc. And formula and breast milk is thoroughly discussed so there is no confusion, except when parents are just plain dumb.
It would be nice that if someone is going to tell a story to get it right. It is a known fact that veganism is okay for all stages of life, to include pregnant and lactating women. The ADA supports and encourages it. It also encourages all health care individuals to be versed in it and support those that are or wish to be. It is not only the American side, but also the Canadian as well.
Jul 31st, 2008 at 1:56 am
Fromper and Gypsy, VERY well said. I’ve had 4 years of nutrition training and can say that they are correct. You never hear stories of parents giving their newborns cow’s milk and dying from it. It happens, it just doesn’t make the news because the parents don’t give themselves the”vegan” title. I am not a vegan and can honestly say that a balanced vegan diet is much healthier than a balanced meat eating diet.
Fortified soy milk is HEALTHIER than cow’s milk.
“Doctors say cow’s milk can lead to iron deficiency anemia, allergies, diarrhea, heart disease, colic, cramps, gastrointestinal bleeding, sinusitis, skin rashes, acne, increased frequency of colds and flu, arthritis, diabetes, ear infections, osteoporosis, asthma, autoimmune diseases, and more, possibly even lung cancer, multiple sclerosis and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
I would go into more detail on this case, but Fromper has said it all :)
Do you remember the story of a “vegan” family who starved their 3 kids? The word VEGAN was plastered everywhere, yet if you read the story, you KNEW it wasn’t the vegan diet, it was the insane parents. They would time their kids eating, make them get up the second the timer went off, they didn’t give them a variety of foods, etc. They were obsessed with the obesity problem in America and their only thoughts were to prevent it in their family. They kept their kids on low-calorie diets. It wasn’t enough food, period. Even if they were feeding them chicken or beef, it wouldn’t have mattered.
I just think it’s funny how many people poke fun at the vegan lifestyle, yet I worked as a waitress for more than 3 years and 19 out of 20 kids who came in ate chicken strips with extra ranch, french fries, and soda. Wow, healthy. And judging by their size and the size of their family, it wasn’t a special occasion thing. I even had a 1 year old who was at least 2 times the size she should have been. The parents fed their 1 year old an ADULT sized breakfast, something I couldn’t even finish if I had it over 2 meals.
The fact is: VEGAN is not the issue. SOY MILK isn’t the issue, STUPID PEOPLE are. Period.
Jul 31st, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Hi guys, I think the point of the article was to highlight the dangers of feeding soymilk to infants, not to persecute vegans. There is so much new science to suggest that soy is dangerous not only to children, but to adults too. Traditionally, Asian cultures used soy more like a condiment to supplement the meal, not as a replacement for protein. They also ate fermented soy foods like soy sauce, natto, miso and tempeh. Here’s a few links you might be interested in reading.
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/HealthNutrition/dangers-of-soy
thyroid.about.com/cs/soyinfo/a/soy.htm
http://www.soyonlineservice.co.nz
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/ploy.html
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/esfh-sfa072208.php
Apr 21st, 2009 at 3:47 pm
as per usual with bias media articles.
the issue here is not about the word vegan ‘abused’.
its about non-educated, ignorance & arrogance.
i can tell you,
i feel disgusted that the extent of nutrition care i put into my family is
stigmatised all because of peoples ‘issues’, whatever personal reason they may be.
i can walk in to any house in my neighbourhood & prove how i and my family
are healthier & more nutritionally sound then most.
why arent there articles about the parents who are letting their 2 year olds drink coca-cola, coffee, junk cereals, white breads, snacks & crisps loaded with mind-altering preservatives & flavours…..
the reason is money & marketing.
there is not much money in veganism. corporate giants dont make much profit with
people who rely on taking care of their own health as naturally as possible!
Feb 15th, 2010 at 12:45 am
Just to throw in my 2 cents:
I believe that breast milk is always best for baby and a well thought out nutritious vegan diet will have absolutely no impact on this. If breastfeeding is not an option for any reason infant formula should then be used. In regards to this article, it is incorrect to imply that the child was “murdered” by means of soy milk. The death was the result of a lack of appropriate nutrition for an infant, the language of article however would have the reader believe that soy milk is some kind of poison. Also I would love to know why any person with a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences (assuming that they have any knowledge of how to present a “scientific” fact) would author an article such as this, condemning the use of soy milk products by adults as well as infants.To state that “severe vitamin, mineral, fatty acid and amino amino acid deficiencies will occur.” from the use of soy products, even by adults, is simply incorrect. Soy is not ‘unhealthy’. All of these nutritional needs can be met without any kind of milk product (even cows milk), and therefore it is as I have stated above, a lack of a proper balanced diet in an adult that would cause this, not the consumption of soy milk or the belief that soy milk is healthy. This article is nothing more than a blatant attack on soy products and veganism, niether of which are a cause of death in themselves, and ignores the real issue of parental neglect in this case.