How Safe is your Baby Milk?

Made in China?
How safe is your baby milk?

This September Chinese police arrested 22 people suspected of producing Melamine. This is the chemical at the heart of the Chinese baby milk scandal.

The fake milk resulted in thousands of babies being hospitalised with kidney illnesses, kidney stones and renal failure. Suspected figures stand at around 53,000 babies being hospitalised and four resulting in death.

Melamine is used in making plastics. Its high nitrogen content makes products appear to have a high protein content. Adding this chemical to the milk would have meant that new born babies were drinking a formula with no more benefits than normal tap water but laced with a chemical that is dangerous in the very young and when consumed in large quantities.

The Food Standards agency have allayed fears UK parents may have with their own brands of formula milk being contaminated with melamine by releasing the following statement on their website:

“Following concerns about milk and milk products contaminated with melamine in China, the Food Standards Agency can confirm that no baby milk manufactured in China can be sold legally in the UK. The Agency can also confirm that manufacturers of baby milks sold in the UK cannot use any milk or milk products imported from China.”

“The World Health Organization reports official Chinese figures showing that 39,965 infants have received treatment after consuming infant formula and three deaths have been linked to the contaminated products. Melamine is a chemical used widely in plastics and has been linked to kidney failure.”

“The Agency will continue to monitor the situation and take action in the UK if necessary.”