Hong Kong issues health alert over infant formulas from Japan

Hong Kong has issued a health alert, cautioning parents not to give their babies six powdered infant formulas imported from Japan as they have low iodine levels, which could lead to adverse health effects.

Of the six powdered infant formulas found to have low iodine, three products were manufactured by Morinaga, two by Wakodo, and one by Meiji, according to Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety (CFS).

The products are: Meiji HP (for 0 to 36 month old infants), 850g; Wakodo (for 0 to 9 months old) 13g x 10 packets; Wakodo (for 0 to 9 months old) 850g; Morinaga (for 0 to 12 months old) 13g x 10 packets; Morinaga (for 0 to 12 months old), 820g; and Morinaga (for 0 to 9 months old) 850g.

A CFS spokesman said the powdered infant formulas manufactured in Japan were found to have iodine levels less than one-third of the value recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is about 15µg per kg of body weight.

"This may affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. If normal thyroid function is significantly affected, there may be potential impact on the brain development of infants," the spokesman added.

The CFS has urged retailers to stop selling the products immediately and has informed importers about the test results in order to recall the products.

Parents have been advised to shift to other brands that sell cow milk-based formula with adequate iodine content.

The test results are a consequence of a two-year surveillance programme that was initiated by CFS in May 2012 to evaluate the nutritional composition of infant and follow-up formulas available in the market.

CFS noted that it will continue to evaluate the content of essential nutrients in infant follow-up formulas, and expects the targeted surveillance programme to be completed by mid-2013.

Meanwhile, in response to these findings, the Hong Kong government plans to introduce a legislation to regulate the nutritional composition and nutrition labelling for infant formulas.