Newsletter
Vol 34, No 4
The Soy Connection Newsletter | Fall 2026 – Vol. 34, No. 4 Early Life Nutrition: Science, Safety, & Clinical Guidance
Early Life Nutrition: Science, Safety, & Clinical Guidance awards 1.25 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program.
In This Issue
Infant feeding decisions are among the earliest, and often most important, nutrition conversations health professionals have with families. In this issue of the Soy Connection newsletter, we examine the latest science supporting infant feeding guidance.
In "New Insights into Soy Infant Formula and Long-Term Health," Aline Andres, PhD, RD reviews findings from the landmark Beginnings Study, providing reassuring long-term evidence that soy infant formula supports healthy growth, development, and reproductive health through adolescence.
In "Infant Formula Through the Years: Science, Safety, and Clinical Practice," Michelle M. Bohan Brown, PhD, RDN, explores how decades of scientific innovation, advances in human milk research, and rigorous FDA oversight have shaped today's modern infant formulas.
Finally, in "Survey Insights: Bridging the Gap in Soy & Child Nutrition Counseling," Kaci Vohland, MS, RDN, LD, shares recent survey findings that highlight opportunities to better understand parents' priorities, address common misconceptions about soy, and strengthen evidence-based child nutrition counseling.
Together, these articles provide practical, evidence-based guidance to help health professionals support informed, individualized feeding decisions.
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Newsletter Articles
By Aline Andres, PhD, RD
What you need to know:
- Soy infant formula results in similar growth and development as dairy-based infant formulas. The Beginnings Study and Beginnings Follow-Up Study found no evidence of differences in growth, bone health, reproductive development, pubertal maturation, or overall cognitive function from infancy through adolescence.
- Soy infant formula is a well-supported infant feeding option. While breastfeeding remains the preferred feeding method, the Beginnings Studies provide reassuring evidence supporting the use of soy formula when chosen or medically appropriate.
- The Beginnings Studies provide valuable evidence for patient counseling. As one of the most comprehensive prospective studies of infant feeding, these studies offer long-term, real-world data to help health professionals confidently address common questions about soy infant formula.
By Michelle M. Bohan Brown, PhD, RDN
What you need to know:
- Modern infant formulas are formulated by science. Today's formulas are carefully designed using decades of research on human milk composition, infant physiology, and nutritional requirements to provide safe, appropriate nutrition when breastfeeding is not possible, insufficient, or not the family’s chosen feeding method.
- Safety is supported by rigorous oversight. U.S. infant formulas must meet stringent FDA requirements for nutrient composition, manufacturing, growth and tolerance testing, and quality monitoring to ensure they are safe and nutritionally suitable for infants.
- Infant formulas continue to evolve with emerging science. Advances in understanding human milk, infant development, and ingredient technology continue to refine formula composition, while ongoing research and initiatives such as Operation Stork Speed seek to further strengthen product safety, transparency, and innovation.
By Kaci Vohland, MS, RDN, LD
What you need to know:
- Parents are seeking evidence-based guidance on nutrition. Recent survey findings indicate parents place greater importance on nutritional value than many clinicians perceive and are receptive to discussions about soy infant formula and soy foods, creating opportunities for informed, individualized soy nutrition counseling.
- Soy infant formula has a well-established safety profile for appropriate clinical use. Decades of research support the nutritional adequacy of modern soy protein isolate-based formulas, with no evidence of adverse effects on growth, development, endocrine function, or reproductive health in healthy-term infants.
- Health professionals can help close the gap between perception and evidence. By addressing common concerns, particularly questions about hormonal effects and communicating the appropriate role of soy infant formula in pediatric practice, clinicians can help families make confident, evidence-based feeding decisions.