Two Japanese infant formulae found to have low iodine content

Issue Date 8.8.2012
Source of Information

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS)

Food Product

Powdered infant formula

Product Name and Description

Details of two powdered infant formulae are as follows:

(1) Product name: Wakodo (for 0 to 9 months old)
Manufacturer: Wakodo Co. Ltd
Place of origin: Japan
Net weight: 850 grams
Batch number: All batches

(2) Product name: Morinaga (for 0 to 9 months old)
Manufacturer: Morinaga & Co. Ltd
Place of origin: Japan
Net weight: 850 grams
Batch number: All batches

Reason For Issuing Alert

The CFS has taken samples of powdered infant formulae at local outlets for testings of their content of energy and essential nutrients. Results showed that the iodine content of these two samples were rather low.

Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety

The CFS has informed the relevant importers of the test results. They have now stopped sale of the products concerned and initiated a product recall.

The CFS has stepped up sampling of powdered formulae catered for infants below six months old available in the market for testing of their iodine content. The CFS will take appropriate follow-up actions if the findings on the iodine content of the samples may indicate potential health impacts on infants.

Advice to the Trade

Stop selling the products concerned.

Advice to Consumers

Those who have bought the affected products should stop feeding their infants with those products and consider switching to another brand of infant formula.

Parents should study the iodine content in the label of infant formula. They can change to another brand of cow milk-based infant formula with iodine content as recommended by Codex for infant formula (10-60μg(microgram)/100 kcal)

Further Information

The CFS press release

Iodine in Infant Formula

Consumers may call the CFS enquiry hotline (3978 0600) and the Department of Health hotline (2125 1111) for any related enquiries.

Consumers may also call the importer of Wakodo, ASA Pacific (HK) Ltd (hotline: 2408 2193) and that of Morinaga, Yamakawa (HK) Limited (hotline: 2487 3453), for enquiries about recall arrangements.

Centre for Food Safety
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
2012-8-8

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