Extra caution on baby formulas

All 15 formulas tested by the Consumer Council have been found to contain a contaminant that could damage a baby's kidneys and male reproductive organ.

The chemical contaminant, 3-MCPD, is produced during food processing. The European Food Safety Authority has set its tolerable daily intake at two micrograms per kilogram of body weight.

This means that 4.3kg baby should consume no more than 8.6ug per day.

The sample produced by Bellamy's Organic, which had the highest 3-MCPD level among the 15 tested, failed to meet the European standard if parents complied with the brand's feeding suggestion of about 106 grams of powder every day.

The test showed that Bellamy's contained 120ug of 3-MCPD per kg of powder. A sample from Meiji was the next highest with 63ug per kg of powder.

Council chief executive Gilly Wong said Hong Kong has yet to introduce regulations on 3-MCPD in infant formulas, adding: "Whether to stop feeding babies such formulas depends on parents themselves."

Nora Tam, chairwoman of the council's research and testing committee, said: "If the formulas contain 3-MCPD, the infants will bear a rather high health risk as they don't have another source of nutrition."

Consumers who already bought formulas with a high level of 3-MCPD and do not want to waste them could consider reducing the amount fed to babies, Wong said.

The products were collected in January and February at supermarkets and health product chain stores, with 13 milk and two soy-based tins costing between HK$250 and HK$539.

While some brands cost twice as much as others, test results showed that the amount of energy and nutrients found in different formulas were roughly the same.

Hong Kong's food and drug regulations stipulate that infant formulas should contain energy and 33 nutrients including protein, linoleic acid and vitamins.

Tam said all samples should be able to meet a healthy baby's normal needs of nutrition, adding: "Parents don't need to worry too much."

But six formulas were found to contain less nutrients than the information on their packages, Tam said, urging manufacturers to review their production procedures.

A product of Illuma, which is the costliest tested, had 21.9 percent less Vitamin A than indicated on its package.

Other brands with such a problem include HiPP, Meiji, a2, Megmilk Snow Brand and Frisolac.

Levels of other constituents showed they were all up to local and international standards.

mandy.zheng@singtaonewscorp.com