Meningitis linked to powdered baby formula, warns health body

BACTERIA found in powdered infant formula is linked to outbreaks of meningitis and baby deaths, according to world health experts.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have warned that, because powdered formula is not sterile, it can be contaminated during manufacturing or while the formula is being prepared by the mother.

Babies up to four weeks, particularly pre-term, low birth-weight and babies with a weak immune system are at greatest risk of infection.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said it was aware of the growing health concern in relation to powdered formula and will be issuing guidelines in the next few weeks.

The micro-organism of most concern to the FAO and the WHO is known as Enterobacter sakazakii, or E sakazakii, which can be detected in the gut of humans or animals and in the environment.

The WHO says it can enter the formula in three ways: through the raw material used in producing the formula, through contamination of the formula after pasteurisation or through contamination during preparation of the feed.

The threat of E sakazakii was heightened when the FAO/WHO issued a statement following a meeting earlier this month which concluded that: “It seems not to be possible, using current technology, to produce commercially sterile powders or completely eliminate the potential of contamination.” The report was carried in the British Medical Journal.

FSAI chief specialist in food science Dr Wayne Anderson said the dangers of E sakazakii had emerged in hospitals in the US last year when a number of baby deaths were traced back to the bug. Contamination in Irish hospitals was less likely, Dr Anderson said, because pre-sterilised and liquid formulas were more widely used.

However, he said the FSAI’s microbiology sub-committee had been keeping a watching brief on E sakazakii developments.

“They are of the mind to adopt the recommendations set out by the WHO/FAO. People need to be reminded that powdered formula is not sterile. We will be coming out with some recommendations to allay peoples’ concerns over the next number of weeks.”

A statement from the British-based Infant and Dietetic Foods Association, the industry representatives of SMA Nutrition, Nutricia (Cow and Gate and Milupa) and HJ Heinz admitted that research showed E sakazakii “may be more widespread in the environment than previously thought”.

However, it said all infant formulas, liquid and powdered, were produced under stringent hygienic conditions and comply with strict international microbiological specifications. It also said that infant formulas were intrinsically very safe provided they were prepared, stored and used correctly.