Pia: Wyeth incident shows inherent health risks of infant formula

The government recall of millions of milk cans and boxed products manufactured by Wyeth Philippines due to possible contamination exemplifies the inherent risks of milk formula to the health of young children, Senator Pia S. Cayetano said today.

"The Wyeth incident should be an eye-opener to the public, especially to nursing mothers on the inherent dangers of infant formula. I hope it also persuades more mothers to rediscover breastfeeding and its many advantages," stressed Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

"Breast milk has been proven to be safer, healthier and far more economical than any of the breastmilk substitutes in the market. Breastfeeding also strengthens the bond between mother and childit's a lifetime bond that no rust or mold could eat away," added the lady senator, herself a breastfeeding mother and advocate.

The senator welcomed the Department of Health's (DOH) announcement that it will probe the incident, but also expressed concern whether the recall would still be able to recover a substantial portion of the affected products.

"The products in question were manufactured between May 23 to July 26 last year, while the official recall was ordered just this week, or almost a year later. And so it makes me wonder how much of these products are still in the market, and how much would have already been consumed by this time. It appears there was an effort to conceal the information from the government.

"We're talking here of millions of canned and boxed milk products that could have already been consumed. I hope that BFAD and Wyeth will intensify efforts to recall the affected products to ensure the safety of our children," she said.

Cayetano said several incidents of recalls of milk formula due to contamination have also been documented in other countries.

Citing data from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), she said that between 1982 to 1994 alone, there were 22 incidents of recalls of infant formula in the United States due to health and safety problems.

The products, which included some well-known brands, were recalled for contamination by microorganisms such as Salmonella, Klebsiella Pnuemoniae and even bits of glass particles.

She said in South Korea, there was a case where the products of a milk company were recalled because of the presence of nickel. Similarly in 2005, a milk company in Argentina and Israel recalled its products found to contain cadmium.

"I am relieved to know that despite the lapse of one year, there has been no reported cases of children falling ill due to contamination from the affected Wyeth products. However, this incident, as well as the reported cases abroad, indicate that contamination of these products can happen despite the enforcement of strict manufacturing standards," she said.