BREAST milk given to newborns by NHS hospitals has been recalled after an investigation found some was infected with lead.
The contaminated milk was used to feed some premature babies babies in seven hospitals across the UK – six in England and one in Wales.
Getty – ContributorFamilies whose children had been given some of the milk products have been contacted by the NHS.[/caption]
Tests revealed milk supplied by NeoKare Nutrition contained elevated levels of the toxic metal, which can be particularly harmful to young children. according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
The list of hospitals affected has not yet been released but families whose children had been given the milk products have been contacted by the NHS.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) lead poisoning can reduce children’s IQ and can cause increased antisocial behaviour.
While the product has been recalled, the levels of lead found in the milk not thought to be genuinely dangerous, the FSA confirmed.
NeoKare Nutrition said risk the risk to children from the infected milk products is “low.”
“Exposure to lead from these products is likely to have been for a short period of time.
“Adverse effects from lead typically arise from repeated exposure over an extended period of time,” the manufacturer explained on it’s website.
Both the FSA and Trading Standards have advised for all products sold by the company to be withdrawn and recalled as a precaution.
A small number of customers who purchased the affected products online have been notified by the pharma company.
The recalls notice affects four products which had been available to purchase online. They include:
MOTHER’S MILK FORTIFIER (MMF) POWDER 10 x 1g, food for special medical purpose, supplied to NHS Hospitals only for use predominantly in clinical trials involving preterm babies, not available for retail salePASTEURISED HUMAN BREAST MILK (PHBM) POWDER 6g (supplied direct to customers online)70CAL LIQUID FROZEN 15ml and 50ml, (supplied to the NHS Hospitals and supplied direct to customers online)PASTEURISED HUMAN BREAST MILK (PHBM) LIQUID FROZEN 50ml (supplied direct to customers online)
Junior Johnson, director of operations at the FSA, said: “This situation is understandably worrying for the parents and guardians affected. We have worked closely with the public health authorities and the NHS to assess the risk to health, which is likely to be low.
“Following advice from FSA and Trading Standards, the business recalled the products and we’ve ensured that customers and patients are contacted.
“Additional support has been offered to retail customers and to families whose children were given the products.
“We continue to work with Trading Standards to ensure there is no further food safety risk to the public.”
A statement on NeoKare Nutrition’s website said: “We have been working with the local authority and the Food Standards Agency because lead has been found in a small number of our products.
“Putting public health in the forefront, we have taken the precautionary basis to recall all the products manufactured by NeoKare Ltd.”
The 7 symptoms of lead poisoning in children
Exposure to lead can be harmful, especially in young children. This is because children tend to absorb more lead than adults.
Children tend to absorb more lead than adults due to their growing bones and other organs , which the lead can be deposited in.
The signs and symptoms in young children can include:
irritability and fatigueloss of appetite and weight lossabdominal painvomitingconstipationhearing lossdevelopmental delay and learning difficulties
Source: WHO