Dear Anna,
Thank you for contacting SMA Careline.
SMA First Infant Milk with an improved vegetable oil blend will available to purchase from the end of May. This change in formulation gives a blend of different oils to ensure that it provides all of the necessary fat and the essential fatty acids for your baby, as they are not able to make some fats in their body themselves. We have similar levels of fatty acids in SMA First Infant Milk compared with those found in breast milk and now we have been able to make a further improvement to the shape of the fat so that it is more similar to that found in breast milk. This new fat blend has been shown to decrease the amount of stool soaps in a baby’s poo and also help to soften stools so they are more similar to that of a breastfed baby. In independent research infant formula with an improved fat blend similar to the one found in SMA First Infant Milk has been shown to help improve calcium absorption.
I can therefore confirm that no fish oils will be used in the new formulation. However, please be aware that both the current and the new SMA First Infant Milk unfortunately do not have vegetarian status as in the manufacture of the particular ingredient, 'whey protein concentrate (enriched with alpha-lactalbumin)', it has been necessary to use a small amount of animal rennet in the process. Although animal rennet is not an ingredient of the product, and has only been used in the manufacture of the whey protein, this makes it unsuitable for vegetarians.
I hope you find this information suitable for your needs but should you have any further questions please feel free to contact the SMA Careline again.
Kind regards,
Amanda Bryant
Consumer Relationship Manager
