Stored baby milk may be unsafe

05/01/06 Mums are facing changes to the way they make up and store milk feeds for their baby. Hipp Organic has lead the way by becoming the first baby milk brand to change their milks preparation advice to parents on milks packs.

Hipp became aware of the risks associated with advanced preparation of milks back in the summer and took immediate action to change the preparation instructions on their packs.

A panel of experts from the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) has concluded that babies could be at risk of infection from salmonella and Enterobacter sakazakii micro-organisms if milk feeds are made in advance and then stored. Although infections with these micro-organisms from formula milk are rare, the FSA are calling for health professionals to change their advice to parents about preparing milk feeds in advance. For convenience parents have, until now, been able to make up a milk feed and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

Samantha Mort, Hipp's Communications Manager says. "We changed our baby milk packs to reflect these changes back in July and have inserted thousands of leaflets into our milk packs telling parents what they should now be doing when it comes to storing milk feeds."

Hipp is urging other baby milk brands to follow their lead and to change their preparation instructions to reflect this latest advice.

For more information visit http://www.hipp.co.uk/products/milkfeeding.htm# and click on the "making Milks up in advance" tab.

Recommended guidance from the Food Standards Agency can be viewed at: http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2005/nov/infantformulastatementnov05

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=161199