WHO has passed a resolution that from now on all powdered baby milk formulas will carry warning signs against the pathogen, Enterobacter sakazakii.
These strong warning signs will now appear next to nutritional information and label proclaiming mother’s milk as the best for infants.The alarm is due to the death reported by consumption of contaminated baby formula. A French hospital had reported two deaths and four severe complications in infants who had consumed contaminated formula. This is due to the fact that although the pathogen is minute in powdered milk formulas it multiplies rapidly when improperly prepared.
This is not a recent problem. Some estimated that the poisoning from contaminated infant formula is particularly serious in developing countries, and that the number of children affected has been underestimated.
The industry representatives fear that the manufacturers may be forced to put health warnings on the package of infant formula, which they said would cause unnecessary alarm.
Source: WHO
