Concerns Arise over Infant Formula Manufactured in China

This week in China, there has been concern about the safety of infant formula. There's no firm number yet on how many babies have been affected, but many have been hospitalized due to kidney stones (which are rare in infants) in seven different provinces there. The formula is suspected to contain melamine, possibly to make the formula seem more protein-rich, much like what happened with last year's pet food recalls.

In the United States, the FDA has issued an alert to let consumers know there is no danger from infant formulas manufactured here:

"This is to assure the American public that there is no known threat of contamination in infant formula manufactured by companies that have met the requirements to sell infant formula in the United States. Although no Chinese manufacturers of infant formula have fulfilled the requirements to sell infant formula in the United States, FDA officials are investigating whether or not infant formula manufactured in China is being sold in specialty markets which serve the Asian community."

If you've purchased infant formula from a store specializing in Asian goods, please check the country of origin and stop using the formula immediately if it is from China. Contact your pediatrician or other health care provider about a replacement formula manufactured elsewhere. Manufacturers that meed FDA requirements include:

• Abbott Nutritionals (USA)
• Mead Johnson Nutritionals (USA)
• Nestle USA (USA)
• PBM Nutritionals (USA)
• Solus Products LLC (USA)
• SHS/Nutricia (England)