Hemp and sea moss can harm babies. Social media advice saying otherwise is wrong

During the domestic shortage of baby formula, social media has been rife with recipes for homemade formula, which experts warn against. One Facebook post recommended a specific combination of ingredients that has caused dire health problems for infants.

"Don't let this formula shortage scare you!!! Make your baby some hemp milk w/sea moss," read the May 11 post. "It’s easy I promise!"

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)

Babies who were fed similar combinations of hemp and sea moss have suffered cardiac arrest, rickets and other deficiencies, according to a 2021 report by the Centers for Disease Control Prevention.

The agency examined three cases from August 2020 through February 2021 when infants were treated in hospital emergency departments "for symptoms related to consumption of a nutritionally deficient homemade formula based on alkaline diet recipes," consisting of varying combinations of sea moss, hemp seeds, dates and coconut water. The recipes lack essential vitamins and micronutrients such as vitamin D, calcium and iodine, the CDC said.

The cases "highlight the potential for grave consequences" when making homemade baby formula, the CDC report said.

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"Human breast milk and commercial infant formula contain vitamins and micronutrients essential for growth and development," according to the report. "Infants fed an alternative diet can develop severe deficiencies and experience long-lasting developmental consequences."

We rate the advice in this Facebook post False.