Nursery Water with added fluoride not good for babies

One of the nation’s biggest infant bottle water companies – Nursery Water - is misleading parents with misleading information on its website and advertising materials touting the safety and benefits of fluoride in infant bottled water.

Background:

On November 9th, 2006, the American Dental Association (ADA) issued an alert advising parents to avoid using water with added fluoride when mixing infant formula. Nursery Water, the nation’s leading fluoridated water for babies, still markets its product nationwide at Wal-Mart and other major retailers.

In an extensive review by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), they uncovered how Nursery Water continues to promote use of their distilled water with added fluoride to parents of infants. Copy from their web site and on their packages continues to advise mothers that using added fluoride is appropriate in direct contradiction to the ADA warning and at the risk to their babies’ health. Companies cannot make claims on their product labels that have not been approved by the government.

In their advertising materials, Nursery Water claims that fluoride in water will “strengthen your little one’s teeth”, and “prevent tooth decay.” But in 2006, when approving similar health claims for fluoride in bottled water, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically excluded claims for products like Nursery Water, stating “the health claim is not intended for use on bottled water products specifically marketed for use by infants.” The company also misrepresents the position of numerous health authorities including the American Academy of Pediatrics, stating that Nursery Water is, “Made according to recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics.” In fact the Academy recommends no intentionally added fluoride at all for young infants, stating “Supplementary fluoride should not be provided during the first six months of life.”

According to EWG Vice President for Research Jane Houlihan, “Nursery Water’s behavior is completely irresponsible. They are misleading parents, misrepresenting the facts, and placing profits above the health of babies.” Both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have raised questions or published warnings about the risks of fluoride for infants because of their susceptibility to fluoride-induced damage to tooth enamel called fluorosis, a defect of the permanent teeth resulting in staining and, in severe cases, substantial corrosion of the enamel. EWG’s analysis shows that a significant percentage of infants drinking between one and two bottles daily of powdered formula using Nursery Water would be exposed to fluoride at levels that exceed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) safe dose for infants, established to protect against fluorosis.

What can you do?

If you would like more information, or would just like to talk with a lawyer experienced in this litigation, please call attorney Tim Becker at 1.800.755.0098 for a free consultation or click here to fill out an online free case review.