The invention contemplates an infant formula for feeding to a neonate as a replacement for female human breast milk. The infant formula has a manganese concentration that is no greater than about ten times the manganese concentration in female human breast milk. The infant formula may additionally include supplements for decreasing the effect of manganese on the infant. The infant formula may be predominantly soy-based. The invention also contemplates a method of reducing manganese in infant formula. The method includes contacting a slurry of soy-based infant formula with a chelating agent. The chelating agent may be alumina, which may be regenerated for further use.