|
Adult Milk Products Anlene PhytoKTM Fortified
with Vitamin K
May Affect Patients Taking Warfarin
Background
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) today received notification
from the World Health Organization that the New Zealand Food Safety Authority
(NZFSA) had issued a statement advising people who are taking the blood
thinning drug ¡§Warfarin¡¨ should consult their doctor if they consume Anlene
Phyto K brand milk products produced by Fonterra Brands Limited. Persons
who are not taking warfarin are not affected.
The concerned milk products for adults which are available
in Hong Kong include:
- Anlene High Calcium Non Fat Milk Powder
- Anlene Gold High Calcium Non
Fat Milk Powder
- Anlene High Calcium Low Fat
Milk Drink
- Anlene Gold High Calcium Low
Fat Milk Drink
Actions Taken by the CFS
The CFS has notified relevant parties, including the Department
of Health, the Hospital Authority and doctors¡¦ association so that physicians
can provide appropriate advice to their patients who are on warfarin.
What is Vitamin K?
Vitamin K is an essential nutrient which helps maintaining
normal blood clotting function. Leafy vegetables, broccoli, liver, soya
bean oil and canola oil etc. are good dietary sources of vitamin K. Vitamin
K can, however, interfere with the blood clotting effects of warfarin.
What is Warfarin?
Warfarin is a blood thinning drug used to prevent
stroke, deep vein thrombosis and thromboembolic diseases for patients
suffering from atrial fibrillation or after prosthetic heart valve replacement.
Patients on warfarin should keep their vitamin K intake level in their
diet constant.
Advice to the General Public
- Persons who are not taking the blood-thinning
drug warfarin are not affected.
- As this incident does not involve food safey, no product recall is
required.
Advice to Patients Taking Warfarin
- Do not start consuming the milk products of concern
without seeking medical advice.
- If you are taking the blood-thinning drug warfarin and are already
consuming the product(s) of concern, do not change the consumption pattern
of the products abruptly. Please seek medical advice.
Further information
Further information about the incident can be obtained
from the following webpages:
Centre for Food Safety
18 December 2006
|
