Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10940

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Publication type: news

Cresswell A.
Action on baby formula
The Australian 2007 Jul 21
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22108309-23289,00.html

Full text:

FOOD watchdogs have launched legal action against a baby food manufacturer in a dispute over claims that two of its infant formula products have not been through safety tests.

The NSW Food Authority announced yesterday it had obtained a criminal summons against the Nutricia company, days after the equivalent New Zealand body advised parents to switch to other infant food brands “until there has been an opportunity to fully assess all safety implications”.

Nutricia has been in dispute with food regulators on both sides of the Tasman over the legal requirements for its products, Karicare Gold Plus Infant Formula and Karicare Gold Plus Follow-On Formula.

Both contain synthetically extracted inulin, a carbohydrate found naturally in some foods that is said to improve digestion.

Regulators say the products should have been submitted for assessment, but Nutricia disputes this. The company says the products, sold in Europe since 2000, have been used by more than a million infants with no problems.

Nutricia says inulin is added to many brands of bread, yoghurt, cereal and other foods, so it has already been approved for use. But food authorities say different standards apply to infant products, so they need to be individually tested.

The NSW Food Authority wants Nutricia to withdraw its products voluntarily while assessments are carried out.

A spokesman for the authority confirmed a criminal summons had been issued.

Nutricia Australia and New Zealand managing director Toni Brendish said she was aware the summons had been issued but knew no details of the action.

“Nutricia’s primary concern is the safety of our product and the wellbeing of our consumers,” Ms Brendish said.