Cupric Sulfate
According to the OCA’s complaint against Earth’s Best baby formula:
It is a synthetic substance and is produced by dissolving oxidized copper in sulfuric acid before purification.
Cupric sulfate, or copper sulfate, is added to infant formulas as a form of copper. Copper is an essential mineral that our bodies need; at the same time, copper can be toxic at too high an amount. Cupric sulfate is actually used as a pesticide, fungicide, and herbicide. (Source)
Bottom Line:
Copper is a legally required mineral to be present in an infant formula; adding cupric sulfate to the formula ensures formulators that they’re meeting that required minimum and making sure that infants aren’t copper-deficient. (Source) Cupric sulfate as used in a low concentration in a baby formula is not harmful and is a reliable and bioavailable form of copper, an essential nutrient.
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
According to OCA’s complaint against Earth’s Best baby formula:
Pryidoxine hydrochloride is synthesized by the condensation of cyanoacetamide with ethoxyacetylacetone in the presence of piperidine, 2-butanone-l,4-diol & alpha-methyliminopropionitrile and/or other substances. Alternatively, it is synthesized from ethyl pyruvate, ethyl glycinate, & 1,4-diethoxy-2-butanone, and other substances.
Pyridoxine hyrochloride is a form of vitamin B6. In the body, it’s converted to the active form of B6, pryidoxal phosphate. B6 has a legal minimum requirement in an infant formula, so pyridoxine hydrochloride is added to make sure the product meets that minimum requirement. The FDA considered pyridoxine hydrochloride to be GRAS (generally recognized as safe). (Source)
Bottom line:
As used in an infant formula, pyridoxine hydrochloride doesn’t pose any known health risks. However, nutritional yeast is a very rich source of vitamin B6 and may be a more appropriate alternative for an organic product. (Source)
Thiamine Hydrochloride
According to the OCA complaint against Earth’s Best:
Thiamin hydrochloride is a synthetic compound prepared by linking preformed thiazole and pyrimidine ring systems.
Also known as vitamin B1, thiamin is an essential nutrient for growth and development. All infant formulas are required to have a minimum level of thiamin; formulators add thiamine hydrochloride to the formula to ensure the product contains the required minimum.
Bottom Line:
Nutritional yeast is a very rich source of thiamin (1120% for just 1 oz) and may be a better alternative to the synthetic form in an organic product. (Source)
Retinyl Palmitate
Retinyl palmitate is a synthetic form of vitamin A. Infant formulas are required to have a minimum level of vitamin A, so formulators add retnyl palmitate to make sure they meet this minimum level. Retinyl palmitate is stored in the liver and when the body needs it, the liver breaks it down and sends it out in the bloodstream as retinoic acid, which the body’s cells then utilize.
Bottom Line:
Retinyl palmitate doesn’t pose any known health risks as used in an infant formula. However, goat milk is a rich source of vitamin A, so formulators may be able to rely on its inherent nutrition in an organic formula rather than relying on synthetic supplementation to meet the legal requirements.