PEDIATRICS Vol. 48 No. 1 July 1971, pp. 152-156
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CORRESPONDENCE RE IRON FORTIFIED FORMULAS

Beside two Letters to the Editor on this subject (p. 158) the Academy and its Committee on Nutrition have received others of which the following are representative. To avoid printing the Chairman's comments twice, Dr. Filer's response to all printed letters appears after those here presented.

Committee on Nutrition

American Academy of Pediatrics

P.O. Box 1034

Evanston, Illinois 60204

Dear Sirs:

I couldn't agree less with your statement on iron fortified formulas. Rarely do I see iron deficiency anemia in my practice. I put prematures on formula with iron; rarely others, and don't intend to. The older children with anemia due to iron deficiency already are usually feeding problems with the wrong diet, as I'm sure you will agree. They need their diet changed, not the misleading idea that continuing with milk containing small amounts of iron is needed. "The knowledge and means to prevent iron deficiency" have been with us for years. This new idea is not needed (except maybe in some poor clinics: even there proper diet is more needed).

William B. Schafer, M.D.

4515 Castle Road

La Can, California 91011

L. J. Filer, M.D., Chairman

Committee on Nutrition

American Academy of Pediatrics

Dear Doctor Filer:

A short time ago I received a Committee Statement regarding Iron-Fortified Formulas. The position taken by this Committee certainly is not clear to me as a practicing pediatrician. During our training program it was found that many of the children present on the newborn service were iron deficient. Certainly, the clientele in a general hospital is somewhat different from the clientele of a suburban practice.