New regulations on iodine in infant formula

Wednesday August 22, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG
foonfong@thestar.com.my

(From URL: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/8/22/nation/11894598&sec=nation)

PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry is amending the Food Regulations 1985 to include recommended minimum and maximum iodine content for infant formula.

Health Ministry senior director for Food Safety and Quality Noraini Othman said that currently, there was no minimum level of iodine specified for infant formula under the regulations.

She, however, added that the regulations on infant formula was being amended, involving the current Re­-gu­­lation 389 (Baby Formula) and the new Regulation 389B Baby For­mula for the Purpose of Treatment.

Regulation 389 Baby Formula will recommend an amount of 10 microgramme/100kcal as the minimum level of iodine while the maximum will be set at 60 microgramme/100kcal.

“The recommendation is in line with the Codex Alimentarius/Stan­dard for Infant Formula,” she said.

Regulation 389B Baby Formula for the Purpose of Treatment will be divided into five categories – baby formula for anti-regurgitation, baby formula without lactose, soy-based baby formula, completely dehydrolysed protein baby formula and baby formula for premature babies.

The recommended level of iodine for this category will be the same as Regulation 389, except for premature baby formula, where the recommended minimum level is 10microgramme/100kcal and maximum 50 microgramme/100kcal.

Check on infant formula

Saturday August 11, 2012

By LOH FOON FONG foonfong@thestar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has imposed Level Five Inspection in containing, testing and releasing the infant milk powder Wakodo and Morinaga from Japan for iodine analysis.
Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the step had been taken beginning Thursday as a precautionary measure.
“As such, we urge consumers not to worry because the ministry will carry out monitoring,” he said during a breaking of fast function with the media here yesterday.
Liow said the ministry would continue to do random sampling of all milk powder coming into the country to ensure that they meet the requirements.
The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety had discovered that the milk powder had lower iodine level than the standard set by the international Codex Alimentarius.
According to Codex, the minimum level recommended in infant milk powder is 10 microgramme/100 kilocalories and the maximum is 60microgramme/100 kilocalories, he said.
It is believed that insufficient levels of iodine in infant milk powder could stunt the growth of infants.
According to the Veterinary Services Department, the Wakodo brand was not imported into Malaysia while Morinaga was imported into the country either through the Netherlands or New Zealand and not directly from Japan.
In PUTRAJAYA Health Ministry senior director of food safety and quality Noraini Mohd Othman said the ministry was taking samples of infant formula in the local market.
Noraini noted that should consumers have any doubt on the safety of infant formula that is available on the local market, they can lodge a report with the ministry either through the district or state health departments or the ministry's food safety and quality division's website at http://fsq.moh.gov.my/v3.